Texas Judge Grants Brendan Sorsby Temporary Eligibility, Delivering Another Blow to NCAA Gambling Enforcement

Brendan Sorsby will be allowed to suit up for Texas Tech this fall after a Texas judge granted a temporary injunction against the NCAA on Monday. The ruling blocks the NCAA, at least for now, from enforcing its gambling ineligibility decision while the lawsuit continues in court, an outcome that instantly reignited a long-running fight over how college sports polices wagering and whether eligibility bans can hold up when athletes seek relief in state court.

The case centers on Sorsby’s admissions that he placed impermissible bets involving college and pro sports totaling at least $90,000 across multiple seasons. Court records cited by The Associated Press include that he made 40 bets on Indiana football while he was a member of Indiana’s roster in 2022, though the reporting also notes those wagers were not on games in which he played. Sorsby was declared ineligible by the NCAA under its gambling rules, which still call for a permanent loss of eligibility for players who bet on their own sport.

Judge Ken Curry’s order, issued in the 99th District Court in Lubbock County, requires Sorsby to stay engaged in treatment and support. According to AP’s account of the decision, the injunction is conditioned on continued counseling for gambling, peer support participation through Gamblers Anonymous or a similar program, and ongoing treatment addressing the “underlying anxiety” described as a driver of the gambling behavior. AP also reported that Texas Tech said it will maintain a comprehensive structure for monitoring and compliance as Sorsby returns to the program.

Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt publicly framed the ruling as a rejection of permanent ineligibility. “As we have said before, we do not believe that the circumstances of Brendan’s case warranted permanent ineligibility,” Hocutt said, adding that Texas Tech remains committed to Sorsby’s recovery and compliance with the court’s order. The injunction also comes with timing limits, with Sorsby set to miss Texas Tech’s first two games of the 2026 season under a penalty proposed by his attorneys, even as he is otherwise cleared to practice and play.

For Sorsby, the decision arrives at a pivotal moment. AP reported that Texas Tech opened the season on Sept. 5 at home against Abilene Christian, and the Red Raiders expect to lean on their quarterback as they chase Big 12 title contention and another College Football Playoff berth. For the NCAA, the ruling is another test of its ability to enforce eligibility rules through its own processes when athletes seek immediate judicial intervention.

The NCAA said it strongly disagrees with the court’s ruling, according to AP. The reporting attributes to the governing body concerns that the decision undermines the integrity of sports and could create destabilizing consequences for how rules are enforced across college athletics. NCAA attorneys argued during the proceedings that allowing another season of competition would cause “reputable harm” to the organization, per AP’s account.

Beyond one player’s eligibility, the case has wider implications for college football governance. It raises the question of what “integrity” measures mean when a court finds irreparable harm to the athlete from sitting out while a lawsuit proceeds. It also highlights how quickly eligibility policy can be overtaken by litigation timelines, especially when a quarterback’s season window is tight and the injunction effectively preserves the status quo while the merits are argued later.