Updated
Updated · ESPN · Jun 12
Texas Tech Defends Sorsby in 20-Minute Video as NCAA Appeals 2026 Eligibility Injunction
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Jun 12

Texas Tech Defends Sorsby in 20-Minute Video as NCAA Appeals 2026 Eligibility Injunction

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 12

Summary

  • Texas Tech released a 20-plus-minute video Thursday night backing quarterback Brendan Sorsby, saying the school acted with integrity as criticism spread across the Big 12 and college sports.
  • Monday's temporary injunction let Sorsby play in 2026 despite an NCAA ineligibility ruling tied to widespread wagering, including 40 bets involving Indiana football in 2022; the NCAA has appealed, and he still must miss Texas Tech's first two games.
  • Big 12 presidents met Thursday and will meet again next week to discuss possible sanctions against Texas Tech for using Sorsby even under the court order, while several league athletic directors have already objected publicly.
  • Texas Tech said Sorsby completed a 35-day inpatient rehab program, is in outpatient and group therapy, and now has monitoring software on his phone and devices to block online betting platforms.
  • School leaders framed the case as both compliance and recovery, arguing Sorsby never compromised game integrity and deserves a path to continue his career despite what President Lawrence Schovanec called a serious mistake.

Insights

Caught between angry members and a state lawsuit, can the Big 12 actually punish Texas Tech for playing Sorsby?
Is a star QB's gambling addiction a medical crisis for the player or an integrity crisis for the NCAA?
With a Texas judge's ruling, has the NCAA officially lost its power to enforce its own rules on athletes?