Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby has chosen to forego his eligibility for the 2026-2027 college football season in favor of declaring for the NFL supplemental draft, ending one of the most prominent legal disputes in collegiate sports history.
Sorsby had previously admitted to placing over 9,000 wagers during his time at Indiana University and Cincinnati, totaling at least $90,000 in bets and including wagers placed on Indiana while he redshirted for the school.
While the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) had declared Sorsby ineligible to compete during the upcoming season with Texas Tech, Lubbock County Judge Ken Curry granted Sorsby a temporary injunction against the NCAA on June 8.
Curry ruled the NCAA cannot prohibit Sorsby from "practicing, playing or otherwise participating on Texas Tech's football team for the 2026 season."
As part of Curry’s decision, Sorsby would have been forced to serve a two-game suspension prior to returning to play for Texas Tech, representing the same penalty his legal team had first suggested to the NCAA.
Instead, Sorsby will now enter the NFL as part of the supplemental draft, which requires franchises to relinquish a draft pick in 2027 which corresponds to the same round in which they selected Sorsby. For example, if the New York Jets select Sorsby in the fourth round of the supplemental draft, they would then relinquish their fourth round pick in the 2027 draft.
“This decision was made with Brendan and his family and is purely an output of practical analysis of the situation,” Texas Tech Regents Chairman Cody Campbell said.
“Brendan and Texas Tech stand on very solid and legitimate legal ground, but he faces a June 22nd deadline to be eligible to enter the NFL’s supplemental draft, and there is no practical way to resolve all the various pending legal disputes and ensure his eligibility prior to this date. This is the only viable and fair path for Brendan and his future, as well as for his teammates, and our university.”
Sorsby released his own statement following the decision, having said, “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.
“As my journey continues, I remain fully committed to and focused on being the best I can be, both on and off the field.”
In a joint statement, Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec and Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt stated they found themselves in a “difficult situation” once Sorsby’s injunction was granted, but still “supported him in spite of very different perspectives and opinions.”
Sorsby may have also been motivated by the NCAA and Big 12 conference issuing separate court filings on June 15 in an attempt to block his eligibility for the upcoming 2026-2027 college football season.
After pleading not guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering charges, Terry Rozier is set to face additional charges of bribery and fraud following a court hearing in New York on April 27
