Previous updates in the case of quarterback Brendan Sorsby increasingly pointed to him participating in the NFL’s supplemental draft. That will not be taking place this summer, however.
Sorsby’s legal team has been granted an injunction by a judge in Lubbock, Texas, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports. As a result, he is set to retain his NCAA eligibility for the 2026 season. Today’s unexpected development means Sorsby will not need to declare for the supplemental draft and instead enter the NFL under traditional circumstances next April.
Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger notes a condition of the injunction is that Sorsby will miss the first two games of Texas Tech’s season this fall. That was offered by his representatives as part of their efforts to work out a suspension allowing him to play in 2026. The NCAA expectedly shut down attempts by Sorsby’s camp and Texas Tech in recent days to work out a deal on this front. That seemed to set up one of the more interesting supplemental drafts in recent NFL history, but Sorsby’s attention will instead turn to preparation for another college season.
During his freshman year at Indiana, Sorsby placed numerous bets on the Hoosiers. No wagers were placed on games in which Sorsby played, but those bets – along with a high volume of others – represented a clear violation of the NCAA’s rules related to wagering. A lifetime ban was widely expected by many observers in this case, something which would have left the supplemental draft as Sorsby’s only path to the NFL. Now, though, the Red Raiders will have their QB1 for the coming season on an NIL deal worth roughly $6MM.
Some evaluators viewed Sorsby as a first-round prospect based on performances at Cincinnati over the past two years. The 2027 class is seen as being much stronger than 2026’s at the QB position in particular, but Sorsby could cement his status as a valuable passer leading up to the spring with a season free of further controversy. Sorsby entered a treatment program for a gambling addiction earlier this offseason.
As noted by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, today’s injunction also includes the condition that Sorsby continue receiving treatment for his gambling addiction along with anxiety (something noted in his original filing for an injunction). Sorsby will also be required to attend gambler’s anonymous meetings in addition to his suspension to open the season. Nevertheless, this news marks a surprise which will leave him on track to enter the NFL draft as part of the 2027 class.
Ridiculous. Another crooked judge in Texas. What a shock.
Oh great! Let a known gambling addict who placed over 40 bets on his own team back into the NCAA so he can receive $6 mill in NIL money….. so do the rules over gambling now mean diddly???
Horrible look for all involved
Horrible precedent set. This won’t end well for college athletics.
No NFL team will touch him, not with his track record.
Youre going to be so mad and Its gonna be so funny when he gets drafted
Right….deshaun watson plays in the NFL
Watson was only guilty of serial fondling which hardly impacts the integrity of the game just the moral fibre.
I bet you a lifetime mute this guy never plays a down in the national football league.
It might drop him to a lower round, but he’ll be drafted.
Wow. This sets enormous precedent not only for college football but all sports. I didn’t even think there was a chance of this happening. A player like Jameson Williams in the NFL got suspended longer for betting on other sports and Sorsby only misses 2 cupcake games for bets on his own team. Williams didn’t call it a mental health problem like Sorsby but still. I dont know but this seems wrong.
Time to look into the history of that judge…
Wonder how much of the 6 million the Judge gets?
UH Grad, Locally Appoint/Ran in Lubbock, where Texas Tech is located.
Actually Kirsten, he’s a retired judge that was appointed to preside after original judge had to recuse himself bc of conflict of interest having practiced law around Lubbock for 36 years.
link to trellis.law
What interests are served by this ruling?
Perhaps the powerful monied interests trying to privatize College Sports, destroying the NCAA’s ability to enforce their own rules prohibiting gambling(?)
Who would bet on college (or pro) sports knowing that cheating is being officially “pardoned” by the courts?
The presumed interest that is served is further gutting the NCAA for a takeover by CFP/ESPN. Or just some of that Lubbock money getting into someones pockets.
Disgusting. I hope the NCAA appeals. This is NIL money has created. The only reason this kid is fighting back is a $6M deal to play.
And the only reason the judge issued the injunction was to get reelected
I don’t think this decision stands. I’m surprised the story was written in a manner that didn’t heavily suggest that it would not stand upon appeal.
The judge is retired
All this just to go undrafted next year.
If there’s no penalty for betting on your own team, then NCAA sports have now become a worse version of the WWE. You know the fix is in somewhere, but at least in wrestling, you know it’s everywhere. In college football, every turnover, bad pass, inexplicable play call – every fan in the stands will just think it’s rigged. And maybe they’ll be right! Or maybe they’ll be wrong! It’ll be a fun game within the game, at least until they just quit watching.
But hey. The man has anxiety and therefore had no choice but to concoct a sophisticated gambling plan over multiple seasons at multiple schools. So I guess that’s all worth it.
Will not stand
C’mon people there was no way that Sorsby was not going to get his injunction so he can play. Where was the court located Lubbock, Texas where is the school located Lubbock, Texas. Where does the judge probably live in Lubbock, Texas. So, his attorneys knew they could walk in and out with this injunction, this was not a surprise by any means. Just goes to show how courts have not become a court of law but have become more of public opinion by the judges on how their personal lives and feelings become part of their judgements. He is probably a Red Raider fan.
Man, y’all really don’t look into any of this.
The judge is a U of H grad. He does not live in Lubbock but is DFW area. The original judge refused himself because he did go to TTU.
I blame the school not the athlete. This is a disturbing ruling. Perhaps the only athlete known to bet on his sport to be allowed to continue to play.
I think the only thing more offensive than the ruling is the narrative. Every article, this one included, notes “it wasn’t on his own team” or relays his lawyers arguments that there was “never a legitimate” chance of him participating in games he bet on. It’s weird how our media has started to present this ideas under the pretense of impartiality unaware they’re putting pressure on the Overton Window making it more socially appealing.
This whole affair stinks.
Put Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame then
I don’t think the logical conclusion is “now it’s fine”.
The only chance of this being even passably fair would be having this ruling overturned and “reinstating” his ineligibility after the deadline for the supplemental draft has passed.
Ah but Soresby is a victim! Pressured into wagering on sports by all those ads on TV, pop ups, and apps that are easily downloaded. Get $500 in free play right now! Same wagering apps the NCAA and NFL partner with and profit from. All small wagers and he never threw the outcome of a game. He needs help, and he’s getting treatment! Why should he be denied a future from predatory companies that make gambling so easily available, and his overseers support?? /s