Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is entering the 2026 NFL supplemental draft and plans to drop his college eligibility lawsuit, effectively ending a high-stakes legal battle over his participation in sports wagering. The decision follows intense scrutiny from the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference regarding Sorsby’s admitted betting on games while in college.
Legal Withdrawal and the Supplemental Draft Path
Sorsby’s move to enter the NFL supplemental draft, as reported by CBS Sports, marks a shift from his previous attempt to secure eligibility through the court system. By withdrawing his lawsuit against the NCAA, Sorsby forfeits the temporary injunction that had previously allowed him to practice and compete. Under NFL rules, this status—as a player who has exhausted or forfeited college eligibility—makes him eligible for the supplemental draft, according to On3.
The supplemental draft is a mechanism historically utilized for players who become eligible after the standard April draft has concluded. It allows teams to select players by forfeiting a pick in the corresponding round of the following year’s NFL Draft. For Sorsby, this represents his only remaining avenue to professional football this calendar year. Texas Tech board chairman Cody Campbell confirmed the departure in a statement, emphasizing the practical realities of the situation. “This decision was made with Brendan and his family and is purely an output of practical analysis of the situation,” Campbell said. He noted that the university would not seek the return of any money paid to Sorsby, who was reportedly set to make more than $5 million under his contract.
The Scope of the Gambling Controversy
The controversy centers on Sorsby’s admission that he placed thousands of wagers during his four-year college career at Indiana and Cincinnati. The Guardian reported that Sorsby’s legal team disclosed he placed at least 40 bets on the Indiana football team while he was a member of the program in 2022 and 2023. In total, he wagered approximately $90,000 on various sports.
For more on this story, see Brendan Sorsby declares for NFL supplemental draft after NCAA gambling case ends.
NCAA regulations strictly prohibit athletes from wagering on their own teams, an offense that typically carries a penalty of permanent loss of eligibility. This policy is part of a broader NCAA mandate aimed at maintaining the integrity of collegiate competition, especially as legalized sports betting has proliferated across the United States. Sorsby entered an inpatient addiction treatment program in Arizona for five weeks earlier this year after receiving notice of an impending NCAA investigation. Despite this, the NCAA denied his application for reinstatement, prompting his legal team—led by attorney Jeffrey Kessler—to secure a temporary injunction in Lubbock County that briefly restored his playing status.
Big 12 Opposition and Conference Bylaws
The Big 12 Conference emerged as a vocal opponent to Sorsby’s participation, arguing that his presence undermined the competitive integrity of the league. The conference filed a formal legal complaint against Texas Tech, asserting its right to enforce its own bylaws regarding eligibility. The tension between the school and the conference highlighted the ongoing power struggle between individual athletic departments and governing bodies when local court injunctions override national athletic policy.
This follows our earlier report, Brendan Sorsby: Texas Tech’s Eligibility Case Sparks Legal Battle Over Gambling in College Football.
“The Big 12 filed a legal complaint asking a federal court to protect the constitutional and contractual rights on the Conference and our member institutions to take actions expressly permitted under our Bylaws,” the conference stated.
The NCAA also escalated its efforts, filing an appeal in Lubbock County District Court that requested an expedited resolution before the 2026 season. The NCAA argued that the local court’s injunction was problematic, stating in a filing that the decision was “a slippery slope” that could incentivize a wave of similar lawsuits across the country. By allowing a player to bypass national eligibility rules via state-level litigation, the NCAA feared a fragmentation of the regulatory landscape that governs all member schools.
Future Outlook for Texas Tech and Sorsby
With Sorsby departing, Texas Tech must pivot to its remaining quarterback options. Will Hammond, who spent the spring recovering from a torn ACL sustained in October, is expected to take over the position. The recovery timeline for an ACL tear typically involves extensive rehabilitation, and Hammond’s transition to the starting role remains a critical storyline for the Red Raiders as they prepare for the upcoming season. The loss of Sorsby is significant for the Red Raiders, as he was previously rated the No. 2 overall prospect in the transfer portal.
Read also: Brendan Sorsby Wins NCAA Injunction.
For Sorsby, the focus now shifts to the NFL supplemental draft, which is expected to occur in late July. While teams like the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and Cleveland Browns have been identified as potentially needing quarterback depth, the path to the NFL remains uncertain. Each team must weigh the talent of a high-profile prospect against the significant off-field risk associated with his gambling history. Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken previously described the prospect of drafting Sorsby as “a slippery slope” due to his gambling history, highlighting the significant hurdle Sorsby faces in convincing professional franchises to look past his collegiate violations. The decision rests on whether NFL scouts and front offices believe the player can navigate the league’s own strict gambling policies, which have resulted in multiple suspensions for professional players in recent seasons.
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