Brendan Sorsby will not play for Texas Tech after judge ruled him eligible following gambling treatment program

Brendan Sorsby will not play for Texas Tech University after a judge ruled he was eligible to compete this fall following his entry into a treatment program for gambling addiction, Sorsby announced Monday in a statement read by Cody Campbell, a billionaire megadonor and chairman of the Texas Tech board of regents, according to The Hill.

The decision ends a legal and NCAA eligibility fight that had centered on whether Sorsby, a quarterback for the Red Raiders, could take the field this season after he entered treatment related to gambling addiction, The Hill reported.

Sorsby had previously sought relief that would allow him to compete, and a judge ruled he was eligible to play this fall, The Hill said. Following that ruling, Sorsby chose not to suit up for Texas Tech.

The Hill reported that Sorsby’s announcement followed his decision to pursue a career in the NFL rather than return to the college game. The move is the latest development in a case that had put the school and athletic eligibility process at the center of public attention.

Texas Tech’s offseason plans would now adjust to a quarterback rotation without Sorsby, who had been cleared to play under the terms of the court decision. The record in The Hill report describes the court’s eligibility ruling as tied to his treatment program and related circumstances.

The Hill’s report did not provide additional details about the terms of the court order, the duration of the treatment program, or whether the legal case has additional procedural steps remaining, beyond the eligibility determination and the athlete’s subsequent choice.

Sorsby’s decision also shifts the practical question from whether he was allowed to compete for a specific school this season to how his NFL transition will proceed, including any evaluation and contract steps typically associated with players leaving college athletics after eligibility disputes.