NCAA Leaves Sorsby Out of the Game Despite the Player’s Legal Actions

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has denied Brendan Sorsby’s request to regain eligibility for the 2026 college football season following his suspension for sports betting, which reportedly included wagering on a game he played in.

NCAA Upheld Its Previous Decision about Sorsby

Under NCAA sports wagering rules, student-athletes are not allowed to place bets on professional or collegiate sports. They may permanently lose their eligibility if they are found to have bet on their own team or on any other sport at their school.

Following the NCAA’s initial decision to suspend Sorsby, he sued the regulator, asking it to reinstate him so he could play in the 2026 college football season. In court filings, Sorsby acknowledged placing thousands of wagers across multiple sports. This included bets on Indiana football games during the 2022 season while he was a redshirt freshman at the school.

He stated that he never bet on any game in which he participated and insisted that his gambling did not compromise the integrity of the sport. According to Sorsby, his wagers involving the Hoosiers were limited to bets on the team to win or on his teammates to perform well. He described the betting as a coping mechanism that helped him feel connected to a team he was not actively playing for.

Texas Tech, the team that Sorsby last played for, has publicly supported its quarterback and is appealing the NCAA’s decision. Its president, Lawrence Schovanec, said that as college athletes navigate the legalization and rapid expansion of sports betting across the country, gambling addiction has become increasingly prevalent, particularly among college-aged men. 

He added that the NCAA’s stated mission includes fostering the lifelong well-being of student-athletes and promoting a culture of care surrounding their mental health. He noted that gambling addiction is a clinically recognized behavioral disorder.

Sorsby Comments After the NCAA Up[held Its Decision

Going off of Schovanec’s words, Sorsby recently completed a 35-day rehabilitation program for gambling addiction. In an Instagram post, he said he accepted responsibility for his actions. He added that he felt, for the first time in years, a sense of freedom and no longer felt fully controlled by his addiction. 

Sorsby also expressed gratitude to those who supported him during the past several weeks, including his family, friends, the staff and specialists at Algamus Recovery Services, and the Texas Tech community. He also stated that, with the support of his coaches, teammates, and the university, he was looking forward to returning to campus in Lubbock.