Brendan Sorsby, a quarterback who most recently played for Texas Tech, has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking to restore his eligibility for the 2026 college football season.
Legal Battle Over Eligibility
The complaint stems from wagers Sorsby placed on Indiana football and other sports during the 2022 season, when he was a freshman on the Hoosiers' scout team. He has acknowledged the bets were small, ranging from five to fifty dollars, and that he made them in part to feel more connected to the team.
After the revelations, Sorsby announced an indefinite leave of absence to enter a treatment program for gambling addiction. The lawsuit asks a federal court to issue a temporary injunction that would fast‑track his reinstatement, allowing him to meet the deadline for the NFL supplemental draft later this June.
Treatment and Legal Strategy
Sorsby’s legal team argues that the NCAA’s gambling sanctions are disproportionate given the modest stakes and the player’s proactive steps toward recovery. They contend that the organization’s rules, which prohibit wagering on any college sport, fail to account for the evolving landscape of sports betting and the player’s intent to seek help.
The case also raises broader questions about how collegiate athletes navigate the intersection of sports betting, mental‑health treatment, and eligibility standards. If the court grants the injunction, it could set a precedent for other athletes facing similar accusations, potentially reshaping the NCAA’s approach to reinstatement requests.
Sorsby’s eligibility timeline is tight. He has one year of remaining college eligibility after spending two seasons at Indiana and two at Cincinnati, where he posted a career‑high 27 touchdowns and 2,800 passing yards in 2025. A successful reinstatement would not only let him finish his collegiate career but also position him for the NFL supplemental draft, a pathway he hopes to exploit before the June deadline.