The legal battle around the long run of Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby has begun to take shape.
First up is an try and reinstate his NCAA eligibility. His lawyers requested an expedited resolution to that process, per Ross Dellinger of Yahoo Sports, seemingly with an expectation of being denied as they’ve also informed the NCAA of an “imminent” legal challenge.
Then there may be Texas Tech, who gave Sorsby a $6MM NIL deal to transfer in from Cincinnati. The varsity has formed their very own legal team to represent their interests (via Dellinger’s colleague, Charles Robinson), which include protecting their investment in Sorsby and getting it back if he’s deemed ineligible.
Given the gambling allegations against Sorsby, escaping punishment of some sort seems unattainable. But he and Texas Tech could push for a settlement with the NCAA that forces him to take a suspension but leaves him eligible for a part of the 2026 season.
If the NCAA won’t play ball, then Sorsby and Texas Tech may face off for his NIL money. The 22-year-old will then turn his attention to the NFL, who would should approve his entrance into the supplemental draft. The league has done so prior to now for players coping with college eligibility issues, but increased scrutiny around their partnership with the gambling industry may require them to take a harder line. Sorsby could then pursue legal motion against the NFL from an antitrust angle, a specialty of his lead attorney, Jeffrey Kessler.
Evaluation of the situation has regularly referenced former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who lost his college eligibility for accepting money for autographs. The NFL accepted him into the supplemental draft but suspended him for the primary five games of his profession. The league could treat Sorsby similarly to deliver him some type of punishment while also permitting him to proceed his football profession.