TLDR
- The NCAA ruled Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby permanently ineligible over gambling violations from bets placed on Indiana football games in 2022
- Sorsby completed a residential treatment program for gambling addiction and anxiety disorder and posted a public statement taking responsibility
- Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec confirmed the university will appeal the ruling and publicly backed Sorsby’s recovery
- Sorsby filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking a temporary injunction to play in the 2026 season
- The NCAA maintained that betting on one’s own team is among the most serious violations and must be enforced to protect game integrity
The NCAA has denied Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s request for reinstatement ahead of the 2026 college football season. The ruling declares him permanently ineligible due to gambling violations.
The violations stem from bets Sorsby placed on Indiana football games in 2022 while he was a member of the Hoosiers program. Sorsby admitted in a lawsuit filed earlier this month to placing thousands of wagers during that period.
Sorsby Completes Treatment and Speaks Out
Sorsby posted a statement on social media confirming he has completed a residential treatment program. He was diagnosed with a gambling addiction and anxiety disorder during the process.
“For the first time in many years I feel more free and no longer fully at the mercy of my addiction,” Sorsby wrote.
He also apologized to those affected by his actions. He said he is committed to the work ahead of him.
“I am deeply sorry to everyone I’ve disappointed and am committed to the hard and necessary work ahead,” Sorsby added.
Sorsby expressed hope that he would be able to continue playing football at Texas Tech. He pointed to the support of his coaches, teammates, and the university.
Earlier this month, Sorsby filed a lawsuit against the NCAA. The complaint seeks a temporary injunction that would allow him to play during the upcoming season.
His legal team argues that while he bet on Indiana games, he never wagered on contests in which he actually played. The lawsuit also claims he never manipulated the outcome of any game.
Texas Tech Pushes Back on NCAA Ruling
Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec released a letter to the university community defending Sorsby. He confirmed the school plans to appeal the NCAA’s decision.
“We believe that given the facts and the context of Brendan’s case, the NCAA’s ruling should be reversed or modified,” Schovanec wrote.
Schovanec framed the situation around addiction recovery and mental health. He called Sorsby’s gambling addiction a vulnerability that deserves institutional support.
The university outlined a recovery and monitoring plan for Sorsby’s return to campus. That plan includes outpatient care, therapy, financial oversight, device monitoring, and software to block betting sites.
Schovanec also criticized the NCAA for not keeping up with the rapid expansion of legalized sports betting in the United States. He said gambling addiction “is rising to the point of epidemic among college-aged men in particular.”
He cited the NCAA’s own reinstatement policies, which reference considering the well-being of the student-athlete involved. He urged the organization to follow its own stated principles.
The NCAA defended its decision in statements to The Athletic. The organization said betting on one’s own team is among the most serious violations under its rules.
“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,” the NCAA stated.
The NCAA has taken a more active approach to gambling-related issues over the past year. Last fall, it banned several college basketball players for betting-related game manipulation.
In January, federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment involving 15 college basketball players accused of a point-shaving scheme to fix nearly 30 Division I games. One person has already pleaded guilty.
The NCAA also introduced public player availability reports for March Madness this year. The reports were designed to address growing concerns about the impact of sports betting on student-athletes and team personnel.
