Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Brendan Sorsby is facing troubling off-field problems, and playing college football in 2026 may take a backseat to some of these issues.
Will the NCAA consider him eligible to play in the 2026 season after he entered a residential gambling rehab in the midst of an NCAA investigation into him for gambling?
According to new reports, Sorsby may have some more “real-world” issues to deal with, though. This is more than just X’s and O’s and quarterback depth charts for Texas Tech heading into 2026.
David Purdham of ESPN is reporting that multiple state gaming regulators have launched investigations into Sorsby’s alleged betting activity. He’s being investigated by the Indiana Gaming Commission as well as the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Per ESPN, Kentucky Horse Racing & Gaming is also keeping an eye on Sorsby’s case, and it’s working with the NCAA.
Sorsby reportedly has had multiple betting accounts with different sportsbooks and daily fantasy operations in several states. According to Purdham, he has been described as a “high-volume, low-stakes bettor.”
He allegedly placed a lot of bets, but for small amounts.
College football eligibility may be the least of Brendan Sorsby’s concerns
The NCAA is undoubtedly concerned because Pete Thamel of ESPN has reported that Sorsby bet on the Indiana Hoosiers while he was a freshman quarterback for the program, as Purdham notes. Student-athletes aren’t allowed to bet on any NCAA-sanctioned sport, whether it be at the professional or collegiate level.
The NCAA is within its rights to strip Sorsby of his remaining eligibility, and there is precedent. In 2023, Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers was ruled ineligible after he was criminally investigated, and it was revealed that he had bet on at least one ISU football game.
The NCAA can’t subpoena student-athletes or compel them to participate in investigations, but this issue may quickly spiral out of the NCAA’s purview and become a legal matter for Sorsby. The FBI may even get involved.
State gaming regulators can ban or fine bettors, and refer investigations to law enforcement.
