A Controversial Precedent
Judge Ken Curry allowed Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby to play football in the fall, despite the player’s admission that he placed dozens of wagers on college games, including those involving his own team.
Sorsby disclosed that he placed at least 40 bets on Indiana football while underage, wagering approximately $90,000 using other people’s sportsbook accounts.
Texas Tech president Lawrence Schovanec has argued that NCAA bylaws were created before the era of legalized sports betting and therefore do not adequately address the modern gambling landscape.
The NCAA announced it will appeal the decision, with NCAA president Charlie Baker hoping the case will spur lawmakers to grant the organization an antitrust exemption.
The ruling revives memories of past penalties, such as the lifetime ban handed to Major League Baseball’s Pete Rose for betting on his own team, and the termination of former Iowa defensive tackle Noah Shannon’s college career after he placed a legal bet on his school’s women’s basketball team.
Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen and Utah AD Mark Harlan have voiced their displeasure, joining Texas Tech board chair Cody Campbell in calling for a comprehensive fix to what they describe as a broken system.
Legal experts caution that without congressional action the NCAA may continue to confront a fragmented regulatory environment that could further undermine its authority over athlete conduct.