Posted on: June 12, 2026, 06:43h. 

Last updated on: June 12, 2026, 06:43h.

• Texas Tech officials said their priority is to help Brendan Sorsby with treatment for gambling addiction
• U.S. District Court judge granted temporary injunction against NCAA opening door for Sorsby to re-start college football career
• NCAA is appealing U.S. District Court decision

Amid a wave of negative backlash after a U.S. District Court judge granted a temporary injunction Monday (June 9) against the NCAA, allowing Brendan Sorsby to restart his college football career following gambling allegations, Texas Tech officials are defending their decision to back their embattled quarterback.

Gambling Addiction

In a 20-minute-plus video posted last night on X, Kirby Hocutt, the school’s Athletic Director, University President Lawrence Schovanec, football coach Joey McGuire, and Grant Stovall, Texas Tech’s Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Health and Wellness, all spoke about how committed they are to work with Sorsby.

This is a young man that has a gambling addiction,” said Hocutt. “He has anxiety disorders that have been diagnosed by medical professionals, and we’re taking it day by day.”

$90,000 Wagered

Sorsby wagered over $90,000 during his college career at Indiana, Cincinnati and Texas Tech, over different sportsbooks, according to documents obtained by ESPN. That included bets on his own team when he was member of the Indiana Hoosiers, where he was a back-up quarterback.

Under NCAA rules, student-athletes are forbidden to bet on any NCAA-sanctioned sports at either the college or professional levels, and face permanent loss of eligibility if the individual is found to have bet on their own team, or on teams in different sports from the same school.

NCAA Enforcement Blocked

Sorsby said he never bet on games that he played in, but the NCAA still declared him ineligible. Sorsby then went to court to challenge that.

The court injunction blocks any NCAA enforcement. Texas Tech issued a letter of support for Sorsby as he and his representatives worked through the court injunction process.

Athletic Directors from other Big 12 Conference schools had what media reports described as a “spirited” call after the judge’s decision, where they were reportedly united in their belief that Sorsby should not be eligible for the upcoming season, since Sorsby’s participation this season would set a dangerous precedent for college sports.

Big 12 Conference Condemnation

There were discussions about Big 12 league sanctions or other measures to prevent Sorsby from playing.

“When you remove it from an abstract matter to a real person and you become aware of the circumstances in their individual case, you see things differently,” said Schovanec.

I think we have to recognize that the [NCAA] rules in place now were made long before there were millions of young people walking around with a legal gambling apparatus in their pocket.”

Potential NFL Quarterback

Sorsby, considered a potential Top 5 quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft, had just finished a volunteer inpatient gambling rehabilitation program, hoping to play college ball this season.

Stovall talked about the guardrails and processes the school has put in place for Sorsby, including monitoring activity on his computer and phone, blocking gambling sites so that he can’t place bets, to support his recovery and ensure compliance with his treatment plan. That was a condition to ensure his return to the Texas Tech program.

That program also includes mentorship, a custodian for his personal finances, and routine compliance checks.

Mitigating Factors

Brendan’s in a lifelong recovery process,” said Stovall. “We’re here to stand with him as he tackles these hard challenges. It’s the right thing to do. We’ve done this for other student athletes who don’t get the national attention that Brendan does.”

Stovall added that putting Sorsby back into a positive environment with teammates and peers that support him and hold him accountable was the best thing for him. Schovanec said Texas Tech makes a point of standing by its students.

NCAA Appeal

“Here’s a young man with a dream and a vision to pursue a career, and we felt not to have the opportunity to pursue that career, given the circumstances and the evolving changes in this world that these athletes face, was unfair and unjust,” he said.

Hocutt asked the NCAA to look at the “mitigating factors” in Sorsby’s case – the gambling addiction and mental health diagnosis – adding other people are wrong to question the integrity of the Texas Tech athletics department.

Integrity of the Game

Integrity of the game is scared,” he said. “That’s why we have gone to such great lengths to ensure the monitoring and compliance measures are in place for Brendan’s return.”

Hocutt said Texas Tech can take the lead in shaping policy in a new world with more gambling options at young people’s fingertips.

“I think there’s a conversation that Texas Tech can be a part of and lead to the degree that our colleagues will engage with us on how we address these matters going forward, because this is a very difficult situation, and there needs to be more conversation around it,” he said.

The NCAA has appealed the District Court injunction decision, which they are seeking to expedite. The Texas Tech Red Raiders open their 2026 football season Sept. 5.