One of the most groundbreaking rulings in college football history came down on Monday morning, with a Texas judge granting a temporary injunction to Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Brendan Sorsby. With the injunction, Sorsby is now eligible for the 2026 season, despite the NCAA ruling him ineligible earlier this spring after it came out that he had a gambling addiction and had placed thousands of wagers for more than $90,000 over the previous few years, including on teams that he was part of.
In the wake of the news, the college football world has been up in arms, with many worried about what this ruling will mean for the sport’s future and the sanctity of the game. While some college coaches have joked that they now plan to bring Las Vegas bookies onto their staff to teach their players to bet on their own games, others in power are having more serious discussions.
According to Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger, some Big 12 athletic directors have had “serious” talks about not playing the Red Raiders this year because of this decision and the Texas Tech administration’s willingness to allow it.
“We’ve had some serious conversations about it,” Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor told Yahoo Sports. “There is still a lot to be discussed. We aren’t scheduled to play them this year, but it’s something we have to look at from a college football perspective. This is greater than the Big 12.”
While Sorsby is set to serve a two-game suspension for gambling, many believe this isn’t close to enough. The Red Raiders’ first two games of the year are against Abiline Christian and Oregon State, with Sorsby set to return for the Big 12 opener against Houston.
The biggest issue for many is that Sorsby admitted to this behavior — placing dozens of bets on his own team while playing football at Indiana, as well as thousands more on professional sports — and violated a longstanding NCAA policy, the listed consequence of which is a permanent ban. While the NCAA ruled him ineligible, a legal loophole in the form of a temporary injunction delays the trial until February 8, 2027, after the college football season has come to a close.
“I know the kid has a problem,” Taylor said. “Well, get well and focus on your problem. It is absolutely devastating for him to be able to play when every other sport, no matter the level, deems an athlete ineligible or they are punished severely for betting on their team.”
A story this big has expanded beyond the Big 12, as well. On Monday, Georgia Bulldogs AD Josh Brooks made his case for teams canceling their game against the Red Raiders as well.
“I think there needs to be serious conversations about not playing Texas Tech in any sports,” said Brooks, who is also a member of the NCAA Football Oversight Committee. “This is not about Texas Tech. It’s about protecting our own locker room. We cannot, in good conscience, put our student-athletes on a field where the competitive integrity of the contest is compromised and overridden by the courts. If a state court wants to dictate eligibility rules, they can play themselves.
“All FBS schools should only take the field against programs operating under a uniform, trustworthy standard of fairness. We’ve officially reached the point of no return.”
This story is far from over, so we will see what the coming days bring in terms of news and reactions.
This article originally appeared on Red Raiders Wire: Report: Big 12 ADs considering boycott of games vs. Texas Tech
Reporting by Zachary Neel, Red Raiders Wire / Red Raiders Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Zachary Neel, Red Raiders Wire | USA TODAY Network
