The FBI may choose to investigate allegations of gambling involving Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, according to two individuals familiar with the matter who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity, citing the ongoing NCAA investigation.
Sorsby, a fifth-year senior now with his third collegiate program, has checked himself into a gambling treatment facility and is seeking help for a gambling addiction. On April 27, Texas Tech officials publicly expressed their support for Sorsby.
Despite this, the situation could attract federal attention. One college executive briefed on Sorsby’s case explained that while an FBI investigation isn’t guaranteed, it is possible, depending on jurisdiction and interest. “I don’t think it’s automatic, but would it be in their jurisdiction or perhaps what they are interested in? Yeah,” the executive stated.
Sorsby began his college career at Indiana, later spent two years at Cincinnati, and transferred to Texas Tech, the reigning Big 12 champion, in January.
Another source with direct knowledge of the case emphasized that it’s not confirmed whether Sorsby ever placed bets on his own teams. According to this person, the NCAA’s third-party gambling oversight partner, ProhiBet/IC360, immediately flags any student-athlete who wagers on an NCAA-sponsored sport, triggering an investigation. If an athlete is found to have bet on their own sport, FBI involvement is likely and typically occurs quickly. For less severe cases, such as betting on unrelated sports, the matter may be subject to further interpretation and discussion.
The University of Cincinnati, where Sorsby played during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, declined to comment following news of the investigation. The NCAA, citing confidentiality rules, likewise declined comment on ongoing or potential investigations but stressed its commitment to protecting student-athletes and the integrity of college sports. The Big 12 has not issued a public statement regarding Sorsby.
USA TODAY Sports also reached out to ProhiBet, which provides oversight services to the NCAA and the Power Four conferences, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Not every flagged instance results in an FBI investigation, as this can depend on the workload of individual FBI field offices and the amount of money involved.
How NCAA Gambling Investigations Work
The NCAA, its member schools, and conferences have protocols to prevent and monitor gambling activity among student-athletes and staff. NCAA Bylaw 10.3 prohibits staff and student-athletes from participating in or sharing information for sports wagering on intercollegiate, amateur, or professional sports.
There are two main types of NCAA gambling investigations:
Integrity Investigations: Focused on potential game manipulation by athletes or staff.Prohibited Bettor Investigations: Triggered by a student-athlete or staff member being flagged for gambling activity.
When flagged, a student-athlete is typically suspended from team activities until the matter is resolved. An executive from a Power Four program described the process: staff meets with the athlete, reviews data from ProhiBet, and makes a swift decision regarding suspension.
In 2025, the NCAA had over 100 prohibited bettor cases, most classified as Level III violations and resulting in minimal penalties. However, all violations must be reported to the NCAA. These lesser violations have been compared to misdemeanors or traffic infractions.
The NCAA oversees about a million student-athletes and designated staff, but cannot monitor family members of athletes or staff.
What’s Next for Sorsby?
In November 2023, the NCAA adopted stricter penalties for student-athletes who bet on teams at their own school (even if not their own team). The new rules require at least a one-season suspension and loss of a year of eligibility, along with mandatory participation in gambling prevention education. Previously, such offenses could result in permanent ineligibility. The updated guidelines apply to cases reported after May 2, 2023.
