Brendan Sorsby Appeal Moves to 7th Texas Court as All 4 Justices Are Texas Tech Law Grads
Updated
Updated · NBC Sports · Jun 9
Brendan Sorsby Appeal Moves to 7th Texas Court as All 4 Justices Are Texas Tech Law Grads
3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Jun 9
Summary
The NCAA’s next chance to block Brendan Sorsby’s 2026 eligibility now shifts to Texas’s Seventh Court of Appeals, where the ruling will likely be the final word on whether he can play for Texas Tech.
Judge Ken Curry’s 4-page preliminary order is seen as vulnerable because it granted relief without findings of fact, conclusions of law, or broader analysis of the public-interest issues tied to sports betting.
All 4 justices on the appellate court graduated from Texas Tech’s law school, creating a potential home-state advantage for Sorsby and the program, though one or more judges could recuse and be replaced.
The appeal will unfold amid growing backlash from conferences, athletic directors and coaches, which could make the panel more sensitive to the stakes than the trial court was.
Even if the NCAA wins on appeal, the initial ruling may still strengthen its broader push for a congressional antitrust exemption by highlighting what critics call mounting chaos in college sports.