This story was updated with additional information.
Former Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby was sitting courtside watching his old school face his current Texas Tech Raiders in basketball on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
One day later, the University of Cincinnati filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, Western Division, suing the quarterback who led them to a 12-12 mark in two seasons.
Sorsby hugged UC guard Day Day Thomas pregame, but pulled for the Red Raiders, sending out the Texas Tech battle cry, “Wreck’Em!” after Texas Tech won.
In July 2025, Sorsby, represented by a professional agent, signed an 18-month, two-season Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreement, according to the lawsuit. This agreement had a caveat that if Sorsby were to transfer before completing his 18 months at UC, he would need to pay the school $1 million in damages within 30 days of a transfer, the lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit states that Sorsby has not paid the $1 million. In December 2025, before UC’s Liberty Bowl appearance, Sorsby announced he was leaving, and in early January he signed with Texas Tech after evaluating NFL Draft options.
“Although the University agreed to pay Sorsby a substantial amount of license compensation over the 2025 season, it did so with the express expectation that it would realize the majority of the benefits during the following season,” the lawsuit states.
The Enquirer spoke with Sorsby the morning the lawsuit was filed, and he had no comment on the buyout. Sorsby was the most sought-after quarterback in the most recent transfer portal.
Sorsby said Wednesday he was following UC’s guys at the NFL combine and watched their loss to Navy in the Liberty Bowl. He mentioned that he “had nothing but love for the university as it got him to where he is at.”
UC’s response to filing lawsuit vs. Sorsby
“Cincinnati Athletics is proud to partner with its student-athletes and honors the contractual commitments it makes to them. We expect student-athletes and their representatives to do the same. In his lucrative NIL agreement with Cincinnati Athletics, Brendan Sorsby committed to stay and play for two seasons as a proud Bearcat representative. He also agreed that if he left the university before that time, he would pay the university a specific amount for the substantial harm that his breach would cause. Cincinnati Athletics intends to enforce that contractual commitment. As stewards of the university’s resources, the Athletics Department has a duty to do so. We thank Brendan for his time at Cincinnati and wish him success in the future.”
Reaction from Brendan Sorsby’s agent Ron Slavin
“Pursuing legal action against Brendan Sorsby is misguided. University of Cincinnati, through its revenue-share structure, paid him $875,800 for a season he fully completed, and in that time, he generated millions in value for the program. Attempting to recover those funds now sends the wrong message to current and future student-athletes and risks damaging the long-term credibility of Cincinnati football. This is further disappointing given that Brendan parted ways with UC in what was a mutually agreeable manner. The money the university seeks to recover from him is nothing more than an unlawful penalty under Ohio law. Because UC has chosen to pursue this course of action, Brendan will aggressively defend the lawsuit and pursue any and all damages he incurs as a result of it.”
Showdown with Sorsby looms Oct. 24
Buyout or not, UC will see Sorsby again as Texas Tech comes to Nippert Stadium for Homecoming Oct. 24. Sorsby referred to it as “storybook” and said he was looking forward to the return.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats sue former QB Brendan Sorsby to collect buyout
Reporting by Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
