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Brendan Sorsby needs answers as he navigates a gambling scandal that’s put his final season of eligibility at risk. To expedite the process, he could sue the NCAA.
A potential lawsuit would be heard in the favorable location of Lubbock, Texas.
The quarterback has hired an attorney, according to Matt Hayes of USA Today. He plans to take action should the NCAA drag its feet in its investigation.
Why is Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility in doubt?
The transfer signal caller is alleged to have gambled on his own team as a freshman at Indiana. While he did not play in any contest wagered on, he did break NCAA rules.
He’s also believed to have placed thousands of bets on other sports across a four-year span. It could result in a partial 2026 suspension. It could cost him his senior season.
The association was tipped off to the activity in April. It’s since undergone the process of determining his playing status.
Sorsby signed with the Hoosiers as a three-star recruit in the 2022 cycle. After two seasons, he transferred to Cincinnati.
With the Bearcats, the passer developed into one of college football’s top prospects. He’s thrown for more than 5,600 yards and 45 touchdowns while in the Big 12.
Last year was his best to date. Sorsby was responsible for a league-best 36 scores while leading the conference in efficiency and yards per play.
After the breakout year, he opted to test the market. Sorsby received an estimated $5 million to play one year at Texas Tech.
The betting scandal has placed his playing status is in doubt.
It is unclear who leaked the gambling activity to the NCAA. Cincinnati was reportedly aware of the issue ahead of the 2025 campaign but started him anyways.
A year later, the Bearcats find themselves in a legal battle over his $1 million buyout. There is motive, particularly with Sorsby transferring to a conference rival, but to this point any involvement on Cincinnati’s end is purely speculation.
Regardless of the source, the gambling controversy has put his future in jeopardy. The NCAA could strip him of his final season. The timeline for that decision is crucial.
Sorsby still has the option of entering the NFL’s supplemental draft. He could petition the league for inclusion. That selection event is typically held in June or July. If he is not picked, or if the NFL chooses not to hold the supplemental draft, he could sign as an undrafted free agent.
The quarterback needs an answer by summer. At this point in time, he has not sued the NCAA. He still hopes for a favorable outcome as the investigation continues.
If he doesn’t get the answer he’s looking for or the process is too lengthy, he will sue.
That lawsuit would be heard in Texas.
Any potential eligibility lawsuit from Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby against the NCAA will be heard in the Lubbock District Court, two people close to the process told USA TODAY Sports.
Lubbock District Court serves Lubbock County, where Texas Tech University is located.
-Matt Hayes / USA Today
Favorable locations in these NCAA cases are not uncommon. In the last year alone, we’ve seen many eligibility lawsuits heard in local courthouses.
Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss won his recent eligibility case in Oxford. Meanwhile, Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar’s lawsuit was heard by a graduate of the school.
Crimson Tide basketball player Charles Bediako was cleared to play by a judge in Alabama who happened to be a university donor. The list goes on.
Those cases each resulted in the desired outcome. Will that be true for Brendan Sorsby?
Time will tell. First, he’d need to get the ball rolling. His fate would then rest in the hands of a judge in Lubbock, Texas.
It’s worth noting that the quarterback’s situation is different than others mentioned. He directly violated NCAA rules, and potentially state law, while those listed above simply pushed for one more season of play.
The situation doesn’t look great for Sorsby, at least in terms of his future at Texas Tech. Still, this could be counted as a small victory.
The passer needs answers soon in order to figure out next steps in his career. We’ll soon see if it gets to this point.