At the end of May, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) decided to deny Brendan Sorsby’s request to get back his eligibility for the 2026 college football season.
The decision followed the Texas Tech quarterback’s suspension for sports betting, which reportedly included wagering on a game he played in.
Now, Sorsby’s turbulent college football career could take a different and unexpected direction.
According to several reports on Monday evening, May 15, the Texas Tech quarterback plans to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft.
He Allegedly Wagered $90,000
Sorsby had been fighting to continue his college career after admitting to placing sports wagers during his time at Indiana, Cincinnati and Texas Tech.
Court documents cited by ESPN showed that he wagered more than $90,000 through various sportsbooks, including bets involving his own team while he was a redshirt player at Indiana.
According to NCAA regulations, student-athletes are not allowed to bet on NCAA-sanctioned sports. Penalties are particularly severe for athletes who choose to bet on their own schools, including the permanent loss of eligibility, among others.
While Sorsby acknowledged violating the rules, he maintained that he never bet on a game in which he actually played.
Big 12, Committed to Protecting the Competitive Integrity
Just days ago, a federal judge granted a temporary injunction that allowed him to rejoin Texas Tech and prepare for the upcoming season. The decision was welcomed by Texas Tech officials, who viewed Sorsby as a key piece of the program’s championship ambitions.
However, the legal battle quickly escalated. The Big 12 Conference filed a lawsuit seeking the right to sanction Texas Tech if the school chose to field a player involved in collegiate sports betting activity.
At the same time, the NCAA filed an emergency motion seeking to overturn the court’s ruling.
“The Big 12 has long spoken out about the dangers of sports wagering and remains committed to protecting the competitive integrity of conference competition,” the conference’s Board of Directors said in a statement.
Interest from Several Teams
Sorsby recently went through 35 days of gambling rehabilitation in an effort to continue his football career. Despite the controversy, many scouts remain intrigued by his talent.
Last season at Cincinnati, he threw for approximately 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and just five interceptions. His mobility also made him one of the more versatile quarterbacks in college football.
Now, with his NCAA future uncertain, the Supplemental Draft offers a new path. Several NFL teams are reportedly evaluating Sorsby, although questions about his off-field decisions remain.
Whether a franchise is willing to spend a future draft pick on him could become one of the most closely watched stories of this year’s Supplemental Draft.