Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby fights NCAA ban as new court filing reveals extensive gambling history

Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby faces an uncertain future ahead of the 2026 college football season after newly released court documents detailed years of sports wagering activity that ultimately led to the NCAA declaring him permanently ineligible.

The filing, submitted Friday in a Lubbock court by Sorsby’s legal team, provides the most comprehensive account yet of the quarterback’s gambling history. According to the documents, Sorsby wagered at least $90,000 over the past four years while attending Indiana, Cincinnati, and Texas Tech, including approximately $5,000 since arriving in Lubbock earlier this year.

The revelations come just days before a June 1 injunction hearing in which Sorsby’s attorneys are expected to seek a court order preventing the NCAA from enforcing its eligibility ruling for the upcoming season.

At the center of the NCAA’s decision are allegations that Sorsby placed wagers involving his own teams, one of the most serious violations under the organization’s sports wagering rules. NCAA regulations prohibit athletes from betting on college sports and impose especially severe penalties when athletes wager on their own teams.

Investigators determined that while enrolled at Indiana between June 2022 and December 2023, Sorsby placed at least 40 wagers involving the Hoosiers football program or individual teammates. Those wagers totaled approximately $850, with individual bets ranging from less than one dollar to more than $100. The filing indicates that many of those wagers occurred as part of parlays that included Indiana football outcomes.

The documents also reveal significant betting activity involving other Indiana athletic programs. Between October 2022 and November 2023, Sorsby reportedly placed at least 50 wagers involving Indiana men’s basketball or individual players. Additional records show hundreds of bets on college football games and player performances unrelated to Indiana athletics.

Despite the extensive gambling activity, NCAA investigators found no evidence that Sorsby attempted to manipulate games or influence outcomes. The filing repeatedly notes that investigators uncovered no indications of compromised competitive integrity beyond the wagering itself.

The court documents portray a pattern of gambling behavior that continued after Sorsby transferred away from Indiana. During his time at Cincinnati, records show he was involved in thousands of dollars in wagers, including bets related to Cincinnati men’s basketball. The filing states that some of those wagers were placed through shared accounts registered to other individuals.

According to the documents, Sorsby provided more than $60,000 to another individual between late 2023 and mid-2025 for deposits into a FanDuel account that he allegedly accessed and used. Investigators also documented additional betting activity involving college football games that did not include Cincinnati.

The filing indicates that Sorsby has continued wagering since enrolling at Texas Tech in January, although not on Red Raiders athletic programs. Instead, the quarterback allegedly used another person’s account to place bets on professional sports, including Major League Baseball, the NBA, and PGA Tour events. Records show he transferred approximately $5,000 through electronic payment services to facilitate those wagers.

Sorsby has acknowledged his gambling activity and described it as a long-term addiction. As part of his effort to regain eligibility, he recently completed a month-long inpatient treatment program in Arizona and has sought support from counselors, family members, and university officials.

His legal team has built its appeal around several arguments, including the recognition of gambling addiction as a mental health issue and the NCAA’s stated commitment to athlete well-being. Attorneys contend that treatment, rehabilitation, and education should play a larger role in the reinstatement process.

They have also pointed to what they view as inconsistencies in NCAA enforcement. Among the examples cited is a recent case involving an Indiana volleyball assistant coach who received a suspension rather than a permanent ban despite placing hundreds of wagers totaling more than $327,000.

The NCAA, however, has maintained that Sorsby’s case warrants the harshest available penalty. In its decision denying reinstatement, the organization highlighted not only the wagers involving his own football team but also the volume of bets, the amount of money involved, and repeated rules education he received at all three institutions.

Texas Tech officials have joined the effort to restore Sorsby’s eligibility. The university filed for reinstatement in May, only to see the request denied days later. An appeal followed, supported by letters from school administrators and treatment professionals who argued that Sorsby has taken meaningful steps toward recovery.

The case has also drawn attention because of Texas Tech’s extensive efforts to educate athletes about gambling risks. Included in the court filing are dozens of pages documenting presentations, reminders, compliance meetings, and signed acknowledgments regarding NCAA wagering rules. Sorsby signed one such acknowledgment shortly after arriving at Texas Tech in January.

As the June 1 hearing approaches, the outcome could have significant implications not only for Sorsby’s future but also for how the NCAA balances enforcement, accountability, and treatment in an era when legalized sports betting has become increasingly accessible.

For now, one of the Big 12’s expected starting quarterbacks remains sidelined by a case that has become a high-profile test of the NCAA’s gambling policies and its approach to athlete rehabilitation.