The news cycle surrounding the Texas Tech football team and Brendan Sorsby never seems to stop, though there seems to be an end in sight.
Multiple outlets, including ESPN and the NFL Network, reported Monday night that Sorsby has applied for entry into the NFL Supplemental Draft rather than sticking around with the Red Raiders.
Sorsby and the Red Raiders have created quite the stir over the last week after a judge granted Sorsby an injunction to remain eligible after the NCAA stripped him of the privilege due to his admitted gambling addiction, which included betting on the Indiana team he was a member of.
On3 reported that Texas Tech and Sorsby had mutually agreed to part ways while Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports added that head coach Joey McGuire was meeting with the Red Raiders to inform them of the latest development.
News of Sorsby leaving for the NFL came just minutes after Dellenger reported that Michigan canceled a scheduled match against the Texas Tech volleyball team that was slated for September in Ann Arbor.
The move comes after another busy day of activity across the country surrounding the Sorsby saga, which began with the Big 12 Conference filing a lawsuit in federal court to contest Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s threats of coming after the conference should it try to sanction or punish Texas Tech for playing Sorsby.
Other news on the day included attorney generals from Kansas and Utah joining up with Oklahoma in supporting the Big 12 in its quest to hold Texas Tech to the conference bylaws that would have prohibited Sorsby from playing. Last week’s injunction granted to Sorsby ultimately ruled the Big 12 and the NCAA’s rules were null and void in the matter, though it no longer seems to make a difference.
Texas Tech confirms Brendan Sorsby won’t be part of Red Raiders
Texas Tech University Systems Board of Regents chairman Cody Campbell shared a letter on X (formerly Twitter) to provide some more insight to the most recent events. Campbell says the decision was made “with Brendan and his family and is purely an output of practical analysis of the situation.”
Campbell also cited the complicated legal matters that remain with Sorsby to remain eligible for the Red Raiders for the 2026 season.
“Texas Tech will continue to provide the support and recovery resources Brendan requires on this journey,” Campbell’s letter states. “Furthermore, Texas Tech will not seek return of any amounts already paid to Brendan through his NIL agreements with the University.”
The Texas Tech athletics department also issued a statement on the matter.
“When Brendan’s lawsuit resulted in the granting of a temporary injunction,” Texas Tech University president Lawrence Schovance and athletics director Kirby Hocutt said in the joint statement, “we found ourselves in a difficult situation. With his health and wellness as our top priority, we supported him in spite of very different perspectives and opinions.
“Our position was challenged by many but our support for him never changed. We will continue to extend all available resources that Brendan had as a student and athlete to ensure his transition is as successful as possible.
“We heard from many Red Raiders and we appreciate your passion. Please know that Texas Tech will continue to be a constructive voice in matters related to health and well-being for all students.”
Brendan Sorsby issues statement
Sorsby issued a statement of his own through Instagram.
“I am grateful for the support from my family, my Tech coaching staff, teammates, the community, and so many others who have encouraged me to address and learn about this important issue,” Sorsby said. “As my journey continues, I remain fully committed to and focused on being the best I can be, both on and off the field.”
Sorsby’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, told ESPN that the legal team will now withdraw the lawsuit that earned Sorsby a temporary injunction to be eligible.
“It is now moot,” Kessler said, “so we will withdraw it.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Brendan Sorsby leaving Texas Tech football, headed to NFL Supplemental Draft
Reporting by Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal | USA TODAY Network
