Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby granted injunction, eligible for 2026
June 8 (UPI) -- Texas Tech's Brendan Sorsby, who was previously ruled ineligible for gambling on college sports, was granted a temporary injunction and cleared to play.
Texas judge Ken Curry ruled Monday in Lubbock County, Texas district court that attorneys for the quarterback demonstrated that the football star "will suffer a probable, imminent and irreparable injury" if the court did not issue the injunction and Sorsby he was not allowed to play for the Red Raiders next season.
The NCAA can appeal the ruling.
"The NCAA strongly disagrees with the court's ruling in this case and is deeply concerned about the damaging, far-reaching and broadly destabilizing ramifications of this outcome -- which undermines and corrupts the integrity of sports," the NCAA said in a statement.
"The NCAA is committed to supporting student-athlete mental health but must continue to aggressively defend against actions that defraud college athletics and threaten competitive integrity, such as betting on one's own sport."
Sorsby is set to miss the Red Raiders' first two games, according to a proposal from his attorneys. Reports surfaced in April stating that Sorsby was discovered to have made bets while he played Indiana and Cincinnati. He later admitted to thousands of placed wagers on college basketball and football.
The NCAA, which punishes athletes for gambling on other sports at their own schools by stripping their eligibility for one season, was notified in March by an online gambling book about Sorsby's gambling activity, leading to an investigation into the matter.
The Red Raiders announced in April that Sorsby would take a leave of absence to enter a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction. He was ruled ineligible in May, when he also filed a lawsuit in an effort to restore his eligibility.
Sorsby's temporary injunction order stated that he would "benefit from elite coaching, training resources, camaraderie, and regimen that only being a member of a Division I college football team can provide." It also said he would be able to build skills to maximize the success of himself and Red Raiders teammates and make an "informed decision whether to enter the 2026 NFL supplemental draft."
The order enjoined the NCAA from prohibiting Sorsby from practices, playing or other activities with the Red Raiders football team in 2026. Sorsby was ordered to continue individual clinical counseling "with a provider credentials in gambling disorder, focusing on relapse prevention, cognitive restructuring and anxiety management as ongoing areas of therapeutic work." He also must participate in peer support through Gamblers Anonymous or a comparable mutual aid community and continue treatment for adjustment disorder with anxiety.
If Sorsby fails to conform to the conditions, the NCAA can apply for emergency relief from the injunction.
Sorsby completed 61.6% of his throws for 2,800 yards, 27 scores and five interceptions, with 580 yards and nine scores on the ground last season at Cincinnati. The 22-year-old, who was among the top players in the transfer portal, committed to the Red Raiders in January.
"As we have said before, we do not believe that the circumstances of Brendan's case warranted permanent ineligibility," Red Raiders athletic director Kirby Hocutt said Monday. "As he returns to our football program, we remain committed to supporting Brendan's recovery and ensuring his compliance with the court's order.
"A comprehensive support structure, including clinical care, monitoring, and compliance checks, will remain fully in place for the duration of Brendan's time as a student at Texas Tech."
The Red Raiders will host Abilene Christian in their regular-season opener Sept. 5 in Lubbock.
Copyright 2026 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 10:31 AM.