A judge in Lubbock County, Texas presided over a two-hour hearing Monday and left the courtroom without making a ruling as Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby seeks an injunction against the NCAA to play in 2026.
Judge Ken Curry requested additional documentation be provided before he renders his verdict, which could happen in the upcoming days, according to ESPN.
Sorsby’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, requested a decision be made by June 15 so Sorsby can decide whether to enter the NFL supplement draft by a June 22 deadline.
Curry heard arguments from Sorsby’s team and the NCAA over whether he should be allowed to continue his college football career after making thousands of impermissible bets on college and pro sports — including his own team while at another school.
Sorsby seeks a temporary injunction allowing him to play this season. The quarterback was not present in court Monday.
Sorsby placed at least 40 bets on Indiana football while part of the Hoosiers’ program, court documents revealed last week. Those ranged from $1 to $114 and totaled at least $850 in September and October of 2022, while he was redshirting. Sorsby said in a letter to the NCAA that never bet in a game he played in, nor ever bet against his team.
The quarterback wagered about $90,000 over a four-year period using sportsbook accounts registered to a family member and friends, with 2,900 bets totaling more than $30,000 coming from June 2022 to December 2023 alone. Last week, Sorsby revealed that he completed a 35-day, in-patient rehab stay in Arizona to treat “a diagnosed gambling addiction and anxiety disorder.”
On Monday, Kessler argued that the NCAA ignored Sorsby’s wellbeing in making its decision to render him ineligible. The NCAA countered by saying Sorsby’s mental health was considered, but it did not shield him from the consequence of his actions.
NCAA attorney Taylor Askew further said if an injunction is granted, the collegiate governing body would in effect become the first sports league in the U.S. that could not punish its athletes from betting on its own contests.
The NCAA said it was first informed by law enforcement of Sorsby’s betting activity on March 11, opened its own investigation and notified Texas Tech on April 14. Sorsby’s eligibility was revoked about two weeks later.
Last month, the NCAA denied the university’s request to reinstate Sorsby for 2026, amplifying the importance of Monday’s hearing.
Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech from Cincinnati this offseason and was the Red Raiders’ projected starter for 2026. ESPN ranked Sorsby the No. 1 overall transfer in this year’s class.
–Field Level Media
Comments