Brendan Sorsby eligible to play in 2026 after injunction win against NCAA

Brendan Sorsby has won his most recent battle in court against the NCAA.

Judge Ken Curry of the 99th District Court of Lubbock County granted the Texas Tech quarterback a temporary injunction he was seeking in his legal battles against the NCAA on Monday, June 8, making him eligible to compete for the Red Raiders this upcoming college football season.

"I'm very grateful for the endless support I have received throughout this entire process. I am also grateful for the chance to rejoin my teammates," Sorsby wrote in a statement on Monday. "This opportunity comes with the responsibility to remain focused on my personal growth, the ability to learn from this experience, and to be able to use my situation to help others going forward."

Though Sorsby came out with the win on Monday, he could see some more legal hurdles. A person confirmed to USA TODAY Sports' John Brice that the NCAA was expected to file a formal appeal of Curry's decision to make Sorsby eligible. The NCAA did not immediately respond to a request from USA TODAY Sports for comment on its appeal decision.

Sorsby had stepped away from the program in late April to enter a residential treatment program for his gambling addiction that dated back to his true freshman season at Indiana in 2022. He announced on May 28 that he had completed a 35-day inpatient rehab program in Arizona.

USA TODAY Sports is providing live news and updates on Sorsby becoming eligible to play for Texas Tech this season:

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Why was Brendan Sorsby suing NCAA?

Sorsby was seeking clarity as to whether he'd be eligible to play for Texas Tech this upcoming season or whether he'd need to apply for the NFL's supplemental draft this summer following the NCAA's investigation into his gambling addiction.

What did Brendan Sorsby do?

ESPN first reported on April 27 that Sorsby placed "thousands" of online bets on a variety of sports via a gambling app — including ones involving Indiana games during his true freshman season as a Hoosier in 2022. It was later learned that Sorsby placed wagers on professional sports such as Major League Baseball, UFC, tennis, Romanian soccer, Turkish basketball and even the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

He placed over $90,000 worth of bets over four years through accounts that were either registered under his name or the names of family members and friends. The NCAA prohibits student-athletes and athletics department staff members from betting on collegiate athletics and professional sports.

The NCAA also denied Sorsby's request for reinstatement for the 2026 season on Tuesday, May 26. That denial led to Sorsby's only chance of playing for Texas Tech this upcoming season would come out of his own court case against the governing body of college athletics.

He admitted to placing the bets during his freshman season at Indiana in 2022 — which were placed for the first eight games of the 2022 season when he said he had been a member of the Hoosiers' "scout team" — in the injunction that he filed in his lawsuit against the NCAA on Monday, May 18.

In that same injunction, Sorsby was said to have been "clinically diagnosed" with a gambling disorder, which is "a mental health condition." He recently completed a 35-day inpatient rehab program in Arizona for a gambling addiction.

"While I accept responsibility for my behavior and know that I have a lot of work ahead of me, for the first time in many years I feel more free and no longer fully at the mercy of my addiction," Sorsby wrote in a statement on May 28, the lone public statement from the Texas Tech QB. "... This is the start of a new beginning that I feel fortunate to have.

"I know recovery from addiction is a long road ... I am committed to my ongoing treatment and being a resource to many other student-athletes and other kids out there dealing with gambling addiction and other mental health issues."

How many bets did Brendan Sorsby place?

In court documents filed by Sorsby's legal team to the NCAA on May 29, Sorsby placed more than 9,000 bets for a total of over $90,000. He placed at least 40 bets on Indiana football during the 2022 season.

The Athletic reported that while at Indiana, Sorsby placed more than 8,600 impermissible bets totaling more than $30,000. In addition to the roughly 40 bets on Indiana football — which doesn't include the game he started — he also placed at least 40 bets worth more than $1,400 on the Hoosiers' men’s basketball program during his overall time in Bloomington.

Will Brendan Sorsby be suspended this season?

Yes, Sorsby will serve a two-game suspension per the judge’s injunction. Sorsby will be suspended for Texas Tech’s first two games against Abilene Christian (Saturday, Sept. 5) and Oregon State (Saturday, Sept. 12).

Can the NCAA appeal judge's decision on Brendan Sorsby's eligibility?

Yes. According to USA TODAY Sports' John Brice, the NCAA could elect to appeal the judge's decision just as Sorsby would have been within his rights to appeal the judge's ruling had his request for injunctive relief been denied.

What did Judge Ken Curry say in decision on Brendan Sorsby's eligibility?

In granting the temporary injunction, Curry wrote in his ruling that the "applicant has demonstrated he will suffer a probable, imminent, and irreparable injury if the court does not grant this temporary injunction." Curry also mentioned that Sorsby would miss out on the following if he didn't he didn’t receive the injunction:

"1. Benefit from the elite coaching, training resources, camaraderie, and regimen that only being a member of a Division I football team can provide.

"2. Build the skills necessary to maximize his own success during the college football season, as well as that of Texas Tech’s football team and each of its players, and

"3. Make an informed decision regarding whether to enter the 2026 NFL Supplemental Draft."

Curry also wrote that the "applicant," i.e. Sorsby, "demonstrated a probable right to the relief he seeks on his claims for breach of contract, declaratory judgment, breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing, and breach of fiduciary duty."

Brendan Sorsby-Indiana, explained

Sorsby began his collegiate career at Indiana and played for the Hoosiers for two seasons before transferring to Cincinnati. He placed bets on Indiana — which is prohibited by the NCAA — for every game during his true freshman season with the Hoosiers, except for the one he played in.

In the injunction filed on May 18 against the NCAA, where he was seeking a decision on his eligibility for a fifth and final college football season, Sorsby said he bet on the Hoosiers in 2022 to feel more "connected" to the program.

"I rationalized placing those bets as a way to feel more connected to the team, to root for my friends, and to feel like I had a real 'stake' in the games that I otherwise was not involved in," Sorsby said in the affidavit.

Brendan Sorsby NIL deal at Texas Tech

Sorsby chose Texas Tech after becoming a sought‑after transfer this past offseason following two seasons starting at Cincinnati. He signed a lucrative NIL deal with the Red Raiders that'll make him one of the highest‑paid players in college football this season. 

According to USA TODAY Sports' Matt Hayes, Texas Tech owes Brendan Sorsby $1.66 million this season. The remainder of his NIL earnings — which will bring his total compensation to nearly $4 million — this season will come from private NIL deals with Adidas and others. The near $4 million NIL compensation for Sorsby differs from the near $5 millon compensation that was previously reported.

"We are super excited.  Happy to pay him, even if he can’t play the first two games," Cody Campbell, a prominent Texas Tech booster, said in a statement to Hayes Monday.

NCAA president reacts to Brendan Sorsby ruling

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), NCAA president Charlie Baker said Monday's ruling of Brendan Sorsby being ruled eligible for the 2026 season is "no better example of why targeted intervention from Congress is necessary."

Here's Baker's full statement

"There is no better example of why targeted intervention from Congress is necessary. When you have schools and deep-pocketed supporters willing to look the other way on the glaring integrity threat of betting on your own team - and judges whose rulings effectively strip away our ability to stop them - only Congress can equip the @NCAA to apply this common sense rule to everyone fairly and consistently. The Protect College Sports Act would empower the NCAA to enforce rules including the gambling restrictions - it's needed now more than ever."

NCAA statement on Brendan Sorsby ruling

Here's a statement from the NCAA on Monday's development:

"The NCAA strongly disagrees with the court’s ruling in Sorsby's case and is deeply concerned about the damaging, far-reaching and broadly destabilizing ramifications of this outcome — which undermines and corrupts the integrity of sports. The NCAA is committed to supporting student-athlete mental health but must continue to aggressively defend against actions that defraud college athletics and threaten competitive integrity, such as betting on one's own sport."

Texas Tech AD reacts to Brendan Sorsby ruling

In a statement posted on Texas Tech's official X account, Red Raiders athletic director Kirby Hocutt wrote that the athletic department is committed to supporting Sorsby's recovery and "ensuring his compliance with the court's order."

Here's Hocutt's full statement:

Big 12 commissioner calls ramifications 'significant'

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark confirmed there is "great concern" regarding the ruling among conference members, calling the ramifications of it "significant."

"The ramifications of today's ruling are significant and could have broad impacts across college athletics, creating great concern amongst our membership. I've been consulting with our key stakeholders and have scheduled a meeting with our conference ADs and our executive board this week.

He added the Big 12 has been in touch with Baker and anticipates the NCAA to appeal within the next 48 hours.

"We will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation," Yormark said.

Report: Big 12 teams consider not playing Texas Tech

Yormark's admission of "great concern" within the conference is supported by a report from Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger, which states Big 12 teams have considered not playing Texas Tech as a result of Sorsby's eligibility.

"We've had some serious conversation about it," Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor told Yahoo Sports. "There is still a lot to be discussed. We aren't scheduled to play (Texas Tech) this year, but it's something we have to look at from a college football perspective. This is greater than the Big 12."

Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks told the outlet "there needs to be serious conversations about not playing Texas Tech in any sports."

Cody Campbell reacts to Brendan Sorsby's ruling

In a statement to USA TODAY Sports' Matt Hayes, Cody Campbell, a prominent Texas Tech booster and Texas Tech University System Board of Regents chairman, said the ruling of Sorsby becoming eligible to play for the Red Raiders is "the outcome of a broken system."

Tom Mars statement on Brendan Sorsby ruling

Here's a statement from NCAA lawyer Tom Mars on the outcome of Brendan Sorsby's lawsuit against the NCAA to ESPN's Pete Thamel:

"In 40 years as a lawyer, I've never been as shocked and surprised by a court ruling," Mars said in a statement.

Statement from Brendan Sorsby's legal team

Here's a statement from antitrust and sports labor attorney Jeffrey Kessler, who served on Brendan Sorsby's legal team, to ESPN's Pete Thamel:

It is a just result. Brendan gets to devote himself to his team and the education of athletes on the dangers of gambling addiction. He will continue his treatment, miss two games, and there is no injury to the competitive integrity of the NCAA. It is what we proposed and what the NCAA should have accepted had it been true to its promises to prioritize the welfare of athletes."

Texas Tech football schedule 2026

Here's a look at Texas Tech's upcoming 2026 schedule, including available kick off times:

• Saturday, Sept. 5: vs. Abilene Christian at 7 p.m. ET *
• Saturday, Sept. 12: at Oregon State at 7:30 p.m. ET *
• Friday, Sept. 18: vs. Houston at 8 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Sept. 26: vs. Sam Houston
• Saturday, Oct. 3: at Colorado
• Saturday, Oct. 10: BYE
• Saturday, Oct. 17: vs. Arizona State
• Saturday, Oct. 24: at Cincinnati
• Saturday, Oct. 31: vs. Arizona
• Saturday, Nov. 7: vs. West Virginia
• Saturday, Nov. 14: at Oklahoma State
• Saturday, Nov. 21: at Baylor
• Thursday, Nov. 26: vs. TCU

* Denotes games Brendan Sorsby will be suspended for

Brendan Sorsby career stats

Here's a look at Sorsby's career stats at Indiana and Cincinnati:

• 2022 (Indiana): 3-of-6 passing (50%) for eight yards with an interception
• 2023 (Indiana): 135-of-236 passing (57.2%) for 1,587 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions; 112 carries for 286 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns
• 2024 (Cincinnati): 249-of-389 passing (64.0%) for 2,813 yards with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions; 105 carries for 447 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns
• 2025 (Cincinnati): 207-of-336 passing (61.6%) for 2,800 yards with 27 touchdowns and five interceptions; 100 carries for 580 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns

This story has been updated with new information

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