Texas judge restores Sorsby’s eligibility in NCAA gambling dispute
District Judge Ken Curry cites irreparable injury to the student-athlete, while the NCAA warns the decision undermines the integrity of college sport.
A Texas district judge has granted a temporary injunction against the National Collegiate Athletic Association, restoring Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility to play for Texas Tech University in the 2026 football season. The ruling by Lubbock County District Judge Ken Curry effectively overturns an earlier NCAA decision that had declared the quarterback ineligible following his admission to gambling on sports, including games involving his own team while he was at Indiana University.
Judge Curry determined that the NCAA could not prevent Sorsby from participating in the upcoming season, noting that the student-athlete demonstrated a "probable, imminent, and irreparable injury" if the injunction was not issued. The court found that barring Sorsby from practicing, playing, or otherwise participating on the Texas Tech Red Raiders’ roster would cause significant harm to his athletic career during the 2026 season.
The NCAA has strongly opposed the ruling, issuing a statement on Monday asserting that the decision "undermines and corrupts the integrity of sports." The organisation expressed deep concern over the "damaging, far-reaching and broadly destabilizing ramifications" of the outcome, emphasising its commitment to defending against actions that threaten competitive integrity, such as betting on one's own sport.
Legal documents reveal that Sorsby placed at least 2,900 bets totaling more than $30,000 between June 2022 and December 2023 while at Indiana. These wagers included 40 bets on games involving the Indiana Hoosiers, although none were on games in which he was involved or had a legitimate chance of playing. The NCAA also alleged that Sorsby placed parlay bets on Indiana basketball games that included wagers in favour of players on the opposing team.
Despite the severity of the violations, the NCAA has not found evidence that Sorsby attempted to manipulate his performance or used inside information to place the bets. Sorsby’s attorneys have argued that his violations of the gambling policy should be treated as a mental health condition, citing his diagnosis of gambling and anxiety disorders following a 35-day inpatient stay at a rehabilitation centre in Arizona. The NCAA acknowledged Sorsby’s treatment and stated last week that he is free to continue his playing career elsewhere, even as it challenges the court’s intervention.
