Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby seeking treatment for gambling addiction, eligibility for 2026 in doubt

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New Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby may not be eligible for all or part of the 2026 season.

Texas Tech announced Monday that the Cincinnati transfer is seeking residential treatment for a gambling addiction and would take an indefinite leave of absence from the team.

According to ESPN, Sorsby placed a bet on Indiana when he was a redshirt freshman for the team in 2022. Sorsby appeared in one game that season and the bet — which was on Indiana to win — was not from that game.

NCAA rules prohibit players and staffers from betting on college and professional sports. In 2023, the NCAA said that athletes “who engage in activities to influence the outcomes of their own games or knowingly provide information to individuals involved in sports betting activities will potentially face permanent loss of collegiate eligibility in all sports” and that the rule “would also apply to athletes who wager on their own games or on other sports at their own schools.”

That same year, Iowa State QB Hunter Dekkers and other players were indicted for underage gambling. Dekkers, who had wagered on Iowa State games, lost his eligibility and missed the 2023 season before playing junior college football in 2024 and 2025. 

Per ESPN, Sorsby’s wagers haven’t been flagged for any legal issues, but the NCAA is investigating.

Sorsby's gambling has not drawn the attention of law enforcement, according to sources, nor has he been linked to anyone attempting to influence the outcome of a game. Sorsby's gambling, sources said, was a steady flurry of small bets over a period of time.

There's no timetable for Sorsby's treatment, as sources say his situation is being treated as a mental health issue and Sorsby will be afforded all the time he needs. His decision as a high-profile college athlete to enter a facility to treat his gambling addiction while enrolled is unprecedented.

Sorsby, who reportedly received an NIL deal in the neighborhood of $5 million for the upcoming season, was one of the most coveted players of the 2025-26 transfer cycle before he committed to the Red Raiders.

“We love Brendan and support his decision to seek professional help,” Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire said in a statement. “Taking this step requires courage, and our primary focus is on him as a person. Our program is behind Brendan as he prioritizes his health.”

Sorsby was the starting QB for the Bearcats in 2024 and 2025 and threw 45 TDs to just 12 interceptions across those seasons. He also rushed for 1,027 yards and 18 TDs in 24 games with Cincinnati. Before he went to Cincy, Sorsby was at Indiana for two years. He appeared in 10 games in 2023 after that redshirt season in 2022.

His arrival in Lubbock cemented Tech as the favorite to win the Big 12 again in 2026 after the Red Raiders went to the College Football Playoff in 2025. Texas Tech earned the No. 4 seed a season ago, but lost to Oregon in the Orange Bowl after earning a first-round bye.

The NCAA has taken a hard-line stance on gambling, especially after a widespread gambling ring affecting college basketball was uncovered by federal investigators. In January, 20 people were indicted in a point-shaving scheme that included college basketball and Chines Basketball Association games. 

Numerous college players were allegedly paid to fix the outcome of their games and have seen their eligibility revoked.

“Our enforcement staff has opened sports betting integrity investigations into approximately 40 student-athletes from 20 schools over the past year,” NCAA president Charlie Baker said in a statement after the indictments became public. “While some of the investigations are ongoing, 11 student-athletes from seven schools were recently found to have bet on their own performances, shared information with known bettors, and/or engaged in game manipulation to collect on bets they — or others — placed. This behavior resulted in a permanent loss of of NCAA eligibility for all of them.”

Per the NCAA’s policies, a player wagering on their own sport on another school can be banned for up to half a season. If a player wagers on professional sports, wagers of over $800 could mean the loss of eligibility permanently, while lesser amounts can lead to lost eligibility for a portion of a season. 

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