Sorsby's NFL Draft Move
Texas Tech's Brendan Sorsby Leaves Team to Enter NFL Supplemental Draft
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Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby officially applied for the 2026 NFL Supplemental Draft on June 16, citing an "untenable legal environment" as his reason for leaving the program NFL Network. His departure ends one of the most chaotic weeks in college football, one that involved a court-ordered eligibility restoration, a Big 12 federal lawsuit, and a state attorney general threatening a rival conference with antitrust action.
Sorsby admitted to placing roughly 10,000 bets totaling about $130,000 over four years, including at least 40 wagers on games while he was on Indiana's roster NBC Sports. His legal team argued his gambling addiction is a clinically recognized disability — a defense that drew national attention and forced the NCAA to appeal all the way to a federal court.
How a Gambling Addiction Led to a Legal Firestorm
Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech in December 2025 as the top-rated portal quarterback, signing a reported $5 million NIL deal Sports Illustrated. By April 2026, he had entered a residential treatment facility for gambling addiction. Texas Tech declared him ineligible in May after an internal investigation wrapped up.
Sorsby's attorneys filed for a temporary injunction in Lubbock County. On June 8, Judge Ken Curry granted it, restoring his eligibility and ordering a self-imposed two-game suspension Front Office Sports. NCAA President Charlie Baker called the ruling a "new low" that "undermines and corrupts the integrity of sports" NBC Sports.
Big 12 Sues, Texas AG Fires Back, Sorsby Walks
The Big 12 filed a federal lawsuit against Texas Tech on June 15, trying to protect its right to enforce conference rules Yahoo Sports. That same day, the NCAA appealed the injunction to the Texas Seventh Court of Appeals. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said the ruling caused "great concern amongst our membership" regarding fair competition theScore.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton pushed back hard. He warned the Big 12 that sanctioning Texas Tech would violate state and federal antitrust laws FOX 4 News. With lawsuits piling up on both sides, Sorsby announced the next day he was done. He applied for the NFL Supplemental Draft rather than sit at the center of a multi-court legal battle all summer.
What the NFL Supplemental Draft Actually Means for Sorsby
The NFL Supplemental Draft is a rarely used process for players who lose college eligibility after the main April draft. Teams bid on players using future picks — a team that spends a first-round pick on Sorsby gives up its entire 2027 first-rounder Pro Football Rumors. Past picks include Terrelle Pryor in 2011 and Jalen Thompson in 2019.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero describes Sorsby as a "first-round talent" with an "electric arm." But scouts are cautious. They want to know whether Commissioner Roger Goodell will suspend him after he enters the league NFL Network. Experts estimate the gambling scandal could cost Sorsby as much as $25.4 million in career earnings if teams pass on him The Big Lead.
A Case That Could Rewrite NCAA Gambling Rules Forever
Legal experts say the stakes go far beyond one quarterback. Tulane law professor Gabe Feldman warned that if state judges can overturn NCAA eligibility bans on mental health grounds, the NCAA's power to govern itself is effectively "demolished" Lubbock Online. The NCAA may be forced to separate "addictive behavior" from intentional point-shaving in its rulebook.
Sorsby's camp argues the NCAA profits from sportsbook sponsorships while punishing a player for a medical condition — a charge critics call hypocritical theScore. Texas Tech now turns to sophomore Will Hammond, recovering from ACL surgery, or redshirt freshman Lloyd Jones III at quarterback. The program also risks boycotts from Big Ten opponents upset by the scandal Steelers Now.
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