Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is reportedly under investigation by the NCAA for placing sports bets. He's also seeking treatment for a gambling addiction.
Key Takeaways
- Sorsby placed thousands of online bets, a violation of the NCAA’s gambling policy.
- The NCAA has not made any official statement regarding Sorsby’s eligibility.
- The transfer from Cincinnati reportedly bet on Indiana when he was with the Hoosiers.
The school announced on Monday that Sorsby will take an immediate indefinite leave of absence to enter a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction. ESPN reports the situation is being treated as a “mental health matter.” There has been no official statement from the NCAA on the future of his eligibility.
“We love Brendan and support his decision to seek professional help,” Texas Tech 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.”
ESPN also reported that Sorsby made thousands of online wagers on a sports betting app, which is against the NCAA’s gambling policy of no betting on college or pro sports.
Texas Tech's Brendan Sorsby is entering a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction.@PeteThamel shares more details and what that means for the Red Raiders moving forward. pic.twitter.com/r85Lqh7cKu
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 27, 2026
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Wagering at Indiana
Sorsby reportedly isn’t being investigated by law enforcement, nor is there any evidence of game-manipulation ties, but ESPN’s sources say Sorsby made bets on Indiana to win while he was a redshirt freshman for the Hoosiers in 2022. He only played once that season in a game he didn’t bet.
According to the NCAA’s gambling policy, wagering on a player’s own team could lead to a permanent loss of eligibility.
Sorsby, who threw for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns at Cincinnati in 2025, was one of the top players in the 2026 transfer portal and is considered one of the best returning quarterbacks in college football. He’s the most high-profile college player to publicly enter a gambling addiction treatment program.
Betting issues
Last fall, the NCAA planned to amend its gambling policy to allow players to wager on pro sports, not college, without affecting their eligibility, but the idea was nixed when coaches and conference administrators were not in favor of the change.
The NCAA has had several gambling-related issues as sports betting has grown to become legal in 39 U.S. states, including Indiana and Ohio, where Sorsby has played the last four seasons. Sports betting is not legal in Texas, his home state.
Multiple Iowa and Iowa State players were involved in illegal betting in 2023, and numerous staff members at several schools have been implicated in gambling violations.
The NCAA went through a gambling scandal earlier this year that involved college basketball players from more than 17 schools in a game-fixing scheme with a group of bettors. More than 20 people were federally indicted in the scandal, and multiple players lost NCAA eligibility.
