What's Next for Texas Tech, Brendan Sorsby after NCAA Denies Appeal for Reinstatement
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The NCAA denied Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s request to reinstate his eligibility for the 2026 season on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Sorsby was ruled ineligible by college sports’ governing body after details of his gambling history came to light. He reportedly made thousands of wagers dating back to his time at Indiana in 2022, when he allegedly bet on Hoosiers games — a direct violation of NCAA rules. Last month, Sorsby checked into a treatment program for gambling addiction, which Thamel reported that he completed.
Texas Tech intends to appeal the NCAA ruling, according to a letter released by university president Lawrence Schovanec.
“We believe that given the facts and the context of Brendan’s case, the NCAA’s ruling should be reversed or modified,” Schovanec wrote. “As a generation of college athletes face the legalization and rapid proliferation of sports betting in our country, gambling addiction is rising to the point of epidemic among college aged men in particular.”
Sorsby separately filed an injunction against the NCAA a few weeks ago in district court in Lubbock County, Texas, in hopes of winning back his eligibility. The court case is set for June 1.
Sorsby also released a statement, which read in part: “If I’m blessed and fortunate enough to have the opportunity to continue my college career at Texas Tech, I know I will get the support I need, including through the school’s Center for Students in Addiction Recovery.”
Next Steps for Sorsby, Texas Tech
Sorsby’s battle for eligibility will continue to play out in the courts between his upcoming case for an injunction and Texas Tech’s intention to appeal the NCAA’s decision.
The availability of one of the top quarterbacks in the country for a potential College Football Playoff team is at stake. Sorsby was a highly sought after player in the transfer portal who landed with the Red Raiders back in December, reportedly for $5 million, after a standout season at Cincinnati.
If Sorsby is awarded an injunction, that still doesn’t guarantee he ever plays a game for Texas Tech. The NCAA can in turn appeal, further dragging out this legal process into the summer and closer to the start of the college football season.
This is a potentially precedent-setting case for the NCAA regarding its zero tolerance policy regarding student-athletes gambling on collegiate or professional sports.
Latest on Backup QB Will Hammond
Unless Sorsby is granted an injunction to play, Will Hammond will take the reins as Texas Tech’s No. 1 quarterback in 2026. However, Hammond’s status for the first month of the season is in doubt after suffering a torn ACL against Oklahoma State on Oct. 25. Coach Joey McGuire released a positive update on Hammond’s status last week, indicating to ESPN’s Heather Dinich the sophomore can participate in team-led workouts by June and is expected to be cleared for football activities on Aug. 21.
Texas Tech hosts Abilene Christian on Sept. 5 to open the ‘26 season, followed by a road date against Oregon State on Sept. 12. Considering the tight window of Aug. 21 potentially being cleared for full go, along with the Red Raiders expected to be a heavy favorite in the first two matchups, the target date for Hammond’s return could realistically be Sept. 19 in a key Big 12 showdown against Houston.
Assuming Hammond quickly knocks off the rust and shows no ill-effects from the knee injury, he has all of the tools and potential to rank among the Big 12’s top quarterbacks. The Texas native (and a former four-star recruit) flashed in eight games last year, throwing for 680 yards and seven scores and adding 299 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
Even with the potential loss of Sorsby, Texas Tech remains Athlon Sports’ pick to win the Big 12 this year. The Red Raiders ranked No. 12 in Athlon’s projected top 25 for ’26.
If Hammond is unable to play in the opener against Abilene Christian, redshirt freshman Lloyd Jones III or Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis would start.
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NFL Supplemental Draft Remains an Option
If Sorsby is not granted an injunction on June 1 to play in ‘26, and his appeal to the NCAA’s decision fails, the NFL’s supplemental draft is expected to be his next stop. Sorsby has one year of eligibility remaining. Sitting out this season and returning to Lubbock in ‘27 is not an option.
According to CBS Sports, the NFL informed Sorsby the deadline to file for the supplemental draft is June 22. The ‘26 supplemental draft is slated for later this summer.
If Sorsby declares for the supplemental draft, he could draw interest with several QB-needy franchises already looking ahead to the ‘27 class. The Texas native was expected to rank among college football’s top quarterbacks in ‘26 and projected to push for a spot among the top five signal-callers selected in ‘27.
If a team wants to select Sorsby, it will have to give up a selection in the ‘27 draft. No player has been selected in the supplemental draft since ‘19. Additionally, ‘12 was the last time a player went in the second round. 1992 was the last time a selection was used as a first-round pick.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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