NCAA says it strongly disagrees after court grants Brendan Sorsby eligibility for Texas Tech’s 2026 season

A Texas judge’s temporary injunction prevents the NCAA from blocking Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby from participating this fall, despite the NCAA’s position that he should remain ineligible for sports wagering violations.

By The Apex Times Newsroom3 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby has been granted a temporary injunction against the NCAA that clears the way for him to participate with the Red Raiders during the 2026 college football season. The decision was issued Monday in Lubbock County, Texas, by District Court Judge Ken Curry, and it immediately stops the NCAA from enforcing Sorsby’s ineligibility while the underlying lawsuit continues.

The ruling prevents the NCAA from stopping Sorsby “from practicing, playing or otherwise participating on Texas Tech’s football team for the 2026 season,” according to the court’s described language in coverage of the injunction. Texas Tech also announced a limited form of restriction that kept Sorsby out of action for the team’s first two games, a penalty suggested in the course of negotiations and court proceedings. The Red Raiders’ early 2026 slate includes games against Abilene Christian and Oregon State before a home contest later in September.

In its public response, the NCAA said it “strongly disagrees with the court’s ruling” and characterized the outcome as “damaging, far-reaching and broadly destabilizing,” arguing it undermines and corrupts the integrity of sports. The NCAA’s statement also emphasized that it remains committed to student-athlete mental health while still defending against actions it says defraud college athletics and threaten competitive integrity, including betting on one’s own sport.

Court proceedings described Sorsby’s situation as tied to sports wagering rules and the harm the NCAA believed could result from allowing him to continue playing. According to AP reporting, Curry wrote that Sorsby’s attorneys would face “a probable, imminent and irreparable injury” if the NCAA were allowed to block his participation while the case proceeds. The judge’s decision also included conditions, including continued individual clinical counseling related to gambling and participation in peer support such as Gamblers Anonymous or a similar program, plus ongoing treatment aimed at addressing “the underlying anxiety” cited in court filings.

Sorsby’s path to the injunction has included earlier reports about treatment for a gambling addiction and the timing of his attempts to regain eligibility before the season. AP previously reported that Texas Tech placed him on an indefinite leave so he could enter residential treatment in April, and coverage around the injunction noted that he was pursuing relief through the civil court system after being ruled ineligible.

The injunction is temporary, and the NCAA can appeal to a higher court in Texas. That appellate timeline, and whether the trial court order expands or narrows as litigation continues, becomes the key storyline for Texas Tech and college football as the sport approaches fall practice.

For now, the practical impact is straightforward. Texas Tech can plan for its 2026 quarterback depth and offensive installation with Sorsby available, aside from the first two contests spelled out in the temporary terms. Beyond the on-field chess match, the case adds new pressure to the NCAA’s approach to sports wagering enforcement and eligibility, as it tests the boundaries between association rulemaking and court-ordered remedies in an environment where betting is increasingly embedded in everyday life.

Why It Matters

The ruling directly affects Texas Tech’s 2026 quarterback plans by changing Sorsby’s eligibility status on a temporary basis.
It is another high-profile courtroom test of the NCAA’s sports wagering eligibility framework, with implications for how future cases are handled.
The decision could influence how quickly the NCAA and schools seek resolution in eligibility disputes, given the narrow calendar windows that shape rosters and seasons.
The added conditions in the order highlight how courts may evaluate mental-health treatment and harm arguments when eligibility rules are challenged.
If the NCAA appeals and the case timeline stretches, teams across college football may watch closely for whether similar injunctions follow.

Sources

Key Facts

A Texas judge granted Brendan Sorsby a temporary injunction against the NCAA, allowing him to participate for Texas Tech in 2026.
The NCAA said it strongly disagrees with the ruling and warned about integrity-related ramifications.
The injunction permits Sorsby’s participation but he is expected to miss Texas Tech’s first two games of the 2026 season.
AP reported the court’s order included conditions such as continued clinical counseling and peer support participation, along with continued treatment addressing underlying anxiety.
AP reported that court records showed Sorsby acknowledged thousands of impermissible bets totaling at least $90,000, including wagers while he was at Indiana.
The NCAA can appeal the decision, and the injunction remains tied to the continuing litigation.