Transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby will not play for Texas Tech in the upcoming 2026 college football season, opting instead to enter the NFL supplemental draft as his eligibility battle continues. The decision brings an end to a protracted legal dispute over his NCAA eligibility after admitting to betting on college sports, including wagers on his own team during his tenure at Indiana.

The controversy emerged after Sorsby, who transferred to Texas Tech from Cincinnati in January, disclosed having placed more than 9,000 bets totaling over $90,000, with at least 40 bets involving Indiana games while he was a player there. Following these admissions, the NCAA declared him ineligible to compete this season. However, a Texas district judge granted Sorsby a preliminary injunction allowing him to participate, a move challenged by the NCAA and the Big 12 conference in court.

The NCAA argued that eligibility decisions must be governed by its bylaws, and requested an expedited ruling from an appeals court in Lubbock County, Texas, before the season’s kickoff on August 28. Meanwhile, the Big 12 filed suit in U.S. District Court in Dallas seeking to uphold its authority to impose sanctions on Texas Tech if Sorsby were allowed to play. These overlapping legal battles have contributed to significant uncertainty regarding his status.

Texas Tech officials confirmed they do not anticipate a resolution in time for Sorsby to compete during the upcoming season, given the complex legal proceedings and the NFL’s June 22 deadline for supplemental draft eligibility. Cody Campbell, chairman of the school’s Board of Regents, stated the decision to forego college play was made in consultation with Sorsby and his family, describing it as a practical outcome under the circumstances.

While Texas Tech expressed support for Sorsby despite differing views within the community, the university announced it will continue to provide him with support and recovery resources and will not seek repayment of any NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) compensation previously awarded. School leaders characterized Sorsby’s situation as part of "a much larger broken and predatory system" but emphasized the importance of second chances.

Sorsby’s attorney plans to withdraw the ongoing eligibility lawsuit, ending the contentious legal dispute. The NFL supplemental draft, which is not held annually but convenes when eligible players register, most recently took place in 2023, with the last player selected in 2019. Should Sorsby successfully enter the draft, he would forgo his remaining college eligibility and seek to begin his professional career in the NFL.

This resolution closes a significant chapter in college sports governance, spotlighting ongoing debates around gambling, eligibility rules, and the role of legal intervention in NCAA athletics.