NCAA Denies Texas Tech’s Appeal, Leaving QB Brendan Sorsby’s 2026 Status in Court

The NCAA has denied Texas Tech’s appeal related to quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility, according to a report from The Associated Press. The ruling matters immediately for the Red Raiders as they prepare for the 2026 season, because it closes another door with Sorsby still seeking relief through the legal process.

The NCAA’s denial is described as separate from Sorsby’s own lawsuit against the NCAA. Texas Tech pursued reinstatement after Sorsby was ruled ineligible for gambling on sports, including wagers connected to his own team while at Indiana, a point that has been central to the NCAA’s enforcement under its sports-betting rules.

Texas Tech’s appeal request came after an earlier reinstatement petition was denied. The timeline reported by AP places the lawsuit filing on May 18, Texas Tech’s initial NCAA request denial on May 22, and Texas Tech telling its community it would appeal after the NCAA’s first rejection. By late May, university president Lawrence Schovanec wrote that the school believed the NCAA ruling should be reversed or modified.

While the NCAA review played out, the quarterback’s case in Texas moved forward in parallel. A two-hour hearing was held in Lubbock County’s 99th District Court, before Judge Ken Curry, according to AP reporting. As of the time of the report, a decision from the judge had not been issued, leaving Sorsby’s hopes tied to whether he can secure a temporary injunction that would allow him to practice and play while the lawsuit proceeds.

The offseason question for Texas Tech now becomes whether the program can build a functional quarterback plan without waiting for the court outcome. Sorsby’s eligibility fight is also happening in a high-pressure window: reports say his legal team sought a ruling by mid-June, and he has until June 22 to declare for the NFL’s supplemental draft if he remains ineligible at the college level.

Behind the scenes, much of the dispute traces back to Sorsby’s acknowledgment and the medical pathway he pursued. Texas Tech and Sorsby had announced that he entered a residential treatment program for gambling addiction, with reporting placing the start of that program on April 27. NCAA rules cited in coverage emphasize that student-athletes cannot bet on sports the NCAA holds competitions for, including wagers connected to their own teams.

The broader implication is that the NCAA is continuing to treat sports wagering as an integrity issue with little room for exceptions, even as courts decide whether the NCAA followed its commitments in a particular case. For Texas Tech, the message is clear: the Red Raiders can fight the eligibility decision legally, but they still may have to plan for the possibility that Sorsby does not suit up in 2026.

For now, the next meaningful date is what Judge Curry decides after the hearing. If the court provides interim relief, Texas Tech’s quarterback situation could change quickly. If not, the program’s July and August decisions will have to assume that Sorsby’s availability remains constrained, at least for the start of the season.