Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby plans to apply for the NFL’s supplemental draft, a stunning reversal in the saga over his eligibility after he admitted to betting on college sports.
Sorsby’s decision to leave Tech and pursue the NFL marks an about-face, as he had been granted a temporary injunction by a Texas judge June 8 that appeared to clear a path for him to play for the Red Raiders in 2026. Sorsby had been ruled ineligible by the NCAA after it discovered he had placed more than 9,000 bets, totaling at least $90,000, on professional and college sports over four years while enrolled at Indiana, Cincinnati and Texas Tech, including at least 40 wagers involving Indiana football when he was a freshman with the Hoosiers in 2022.
A flurry of legal activity over the past week further muddled that path to eligibility. Cody Campbell, chairman of the Texas Tech board of regents, said in a lengthy statement Monday night that Sorsby would “not be part of the Texas Tech football team this fall” and called the supplemental draft “the only viable and fair path” for Sorsby’s future.
Campbell also said Texas Tech will not “seek the return” of any money paid to Sorsby through his NIL agreements with the university.
Sorsby’s decision caps what had been an active legal day. The Big 12 filed for a federal injunction Monday morning for the right to potentially discipline Sorsby under its rules. The NCAA, separately, asked an appeals court for an expedited resolution to the local case, requesting a decision on his eligibility to be made by the start of football season.
Campbell referenced the NFL’s supplemental draft deadline of June 22 and said in his statement there’s “no practical way to resolve all the various pending legal disputes and ensure his eligibility prior to this date.”
The Big 12 board of directors issued a statement after its filing that included a sentence that revealed the league’s stance on Sorsby playing this year: “Universities should not field players who have bet on their own team’s games in college athletics.”
The Big 12 legal filing came amid a flurry of pushback from at least four state attorneys general, who heavily criticized Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for what amounted to an attempt at a preemptive injunction in case the Big 12 penalized Sorsby or Tech.
“When Brendan’s lawsuit resulted in the granting of a temporary injunction, we found ourselves in a difficult situation,” Texas Tech president Lawrence Schovanec and athletic director Kirby Hocutt said in a joint statement Monday. “With his health and wellness as our top priority, we supported him in spite of very different perspectives and opinions. Our position was challenged by many but our support for him never changed.
“We will continue to extend all available resources that Brendan had as a student and athlete to ensure his transition is as successful as possible.”
This pivot leaves Sorsby to apply for the NFL supplemental draft, which, according to the collective bargaining agreement, is held if “a player who was not eligible for the Draft in any League year becomes eligible after the date of the draft, he will be eligible to be selected in a Supplemental Draft, if the league elects to conduct such a Draft.”
First held in 1977, the supplemental draft allows teams to bid future draft picks on players. The league hasn’t had a supplemental draft since 2023, and no one has been selected in one since 2019, when the Cardinals picked safety Jalen Thompson with a fifth-round bid.
Jeffrey Kessler, an attorney for Sorsby, told ESPN that his legal team plans to withdraw his lawsuit against the NCAA that sought an injunction for his eligibility, a move that is expected to mean that Sorsby would again be ineligible under NCAA rules.
“It is now moot, so we will withdraw it,” said Kessler, who added that there are no concerns about Sorsby being eligible for the supplemental draft.
NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy declined comment on Sorsby’s situation to ESPN on Monday night.
The news was welcomed around the Big 12, as that league’s athletic directors and some coaches had been pointed in their criticism of Texas Tech. Big 12 athletic directors used words such as “disgusted” and “sad” in the wake of the injunction that was expected to make Sorsby eligible.
TCU coach Sonny Dykes complimented Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark’s handling of the situation, as Yormark worked closely with the athletic directors, presidents and the league’s legal counsel to pore over options before filing the suit.
“He showed strong leadership,” Dykes told ESPN. “Appreciate his desire to do what’s best for college football.”
After law enforcement discovered Sorsby’s betting and informed the NCAA, Sorsby checked into an in-patient rehab program for 35 days to address his gambling addiction.
“I am grateful for the support from my family, my Tech coaching staff, teammates, the community, and so many others who have encouraged me to address and learn more about this important issue,” Sorsby said in a statement Monday. “As my journey continues, I remain fully committed to and focused on being the best I can be, both on and off the field.”
ESPN’s Mike Reiss and Max Olson contributed to this report.
