Texas Tech QB Faces Historic Ban for Gambling: NCAA Stands Firm

Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby could become the first active NCAA athlete to be banned from college athletics for gambling. In April, reports surfaced that Sorsby made over 10,000 sports wagers since 2022. The NCAA ruled that he was ineligible to compete after reports alleged he bet on his own team while he was a member of the Indiana Hoosiers.

Sorsby requested reinstatement for the upcoming season, but the NCAA denied his request. Sorsby appealed the decision in a Lubbock County courtroom yesterday. Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec backed Sorsby in a letter to alumni and fans, stating, “We believe that given the facts and the context of Brendan’s case, the NCAA’s ruling should be reversed or modified.”

Sorsby’s attorneys asked for a two-year suspension instead rather than a complete ban from competition. Sorsby agreed to enter a gambling rehab program. The NCAA stipulates that an athlete wagering on his own team or school, or offers insider information for the purposes of betting, faces “permanent loss of collegiate eligibility in all sports.” Sorsby entered treatment earlier this month for gambling addiction after initial reports surfaced of his betting.