Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby filed for an injunction against the NCAA on Monday, according to reports. Sorsby, 22, is seeking reinstatement for the upcoming college football season after receiving treatment for a gambling addiction. He has been declared “ineligible for competition,” according to a statement by Texas Tech.
Sorsby’s filing accuses the NCAA of being “deeply hypocritical” with regard to gambling and says Sorsby will be “irreparably harmed” if the injunction is not granted. The filing also refers to Sorsby’s disorder as “clinically diagnosed.”
“The NCAA has weaponized his condition to shore up a facade of competitive integrity, while simultaneously profiting from the very gambling ecosystem it polices,” the filing states.
Sorsby has reportedly been receiving treatment for his condition at an inpatient treatment facility since late April.
The NCAA policy on gambling prevents any student-athlete from placing bets on any NCAA-sanctioned event. Penalties for gambling, especially for cases where the player bets on their own team, can include permanent bans.
Sorsby placed small wagers on Indiana football, his team at the time, to “win or for teammates to exceed expectations.” Sorsby did not participate in the games he bet on.
Sorsby’s legal team also put forth a request under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code for the NCAA to be “precluded from enforcing its gambling bylaws against Mr. Sorsby to deny or withhold his reinstatement.” It requests that he be eligible to “participate fully” for Texas Tech in 2026, including in games. It requests that any NCAA action to the contrary be deemed “void and unenforceable.”
In a statement released Monday, the NCAA said it had not received a reinstatement request for this case.
“The Association’s sports betting rules are clear, as are the reinstatement conditions,” the NCAA statement said. “When it comes to betting on one’s own team, these rules must be enforced in every case for the simple reason that the integrity of the game is at risk.”
Sorsby was the No. 1 player in ESPN’s transfer portal rankings this offseason after playing two seasons at Indiana and two at Cincinnati.
