Brendan Sorsby gambling investigation, explained: Why Texas Tech QB is taking leave of absence for betting 'addiction'

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Apr 28, 2026 - 00:00
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Brendan Sorsby gambling investigation, explained: Why Texas Tech QB is taking leave of absence for betting 'addiction'
Brendan Sorsby

Brendan Sorsby gambling investigation, explained: Why Texas Tech QB is taking leave of absence for betting 'addiction' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Texas Tech landed top quarterback transfer Brendan Sorsby in the portal, but Sorsby’s eligibility with the team is now in doubt.

The quarterback is taking an indefinite leave of absence to deal with a gambling addiction stemming from betting on sports over the past several years. If Sorsby bet on sports while playing college football, that would violate NCAA rules and put him at risk of punishment from the organization.

Texas Tech spent a lot of its NIL money to add Sorsby for the season, so losing the quarterback would be a major blow to the team. In the meantime, the NCAA will give Sorsby space to treat his addiction while still looking into his actions.

Here’s the latest on Brendan Sorsby’s leave of absence.

Brendan Sorsby leave of absence

On Monday, Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby announced he was taking a leave of absence to undergo treatment for gambling addiction.

Sorsby will be checking into a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction, which aims to treat gambling addicts. According to ESPN, there is no timetable for Sorsby's return to the program, as the NCAA is treating it as a mental health issue, but the NCAA is also investigating him for gambling while playing over the past four years with Indiana or Cincinnati.

Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire released a statement in full support of Sorsby and commended him for seeking help for his mental health.

"We love Brendan and support his decision to seek professional help," 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."

Brendan Sorsby gambling addiction

ESPN's Pete Thamel reports that Sorsby is currently under investigation by the NCAA for making thousands of small bets on sports using a gambling app. That included betting on Indiana to win games when he redshirted for the Hoosiers as a freshman in 2022, although he never appeared in any of those games.

So far, law enforcement has not investigated Sorsby, so he is currently only under scrutiny from the NCAA, which forbids all athletes from gambling on college or professional sports. Therefore, the investigation puts Sorsby’s eligibility with Texas Tech for the 2026 season in question.

The NCAA’s betting guidelines for players depend on the amount of money players used in their bets. There is a range of punishment, from education on the matter to a suspension for 50 percent of a player’s season.

There is no timetable for the NCAA's investigation, but Sorsby's leave of absence is a sign that these allegations are serious. In a statement, the NCAA said it would not comment on an ongoing investigation.

What is a residential treatment program?

A residential treatment program is a program that aims to help people who have addictions or mental health disorders. Sorsby will be entering a program specifically for gambling addicts.

Did Brendan Sorsby bet on his own team?

During Sorsby's redshirt freshman season at Indiana in 2022, the quarterback reportedly bet on Indiana to win games in which he didn't play. That year, Sorsby played just one game for the Hoosiers as a backup.

If Sorsby is found to have bet on his own team, he would risk lose all of his remaining college eligibility.

NCAA gambling rules

The NCAA prohibits active athletes from betting on college and professional sports, with the punishments raging depending on the severity of the gambling.

"Violations of NCAA sports betting rules may result in severe penalties, including permanent loss of remaining athletic eligibility and loss of athletics scholarships, subject to review by divisional reinstatement committees," the NCAA says on its website.

In a statement following the Sorsby news, the NCAA reaffirmed its stance on gambling.

"The NCAA takes sports betting very seriously and is committed to the protection of student-athlete well-being and the integrity of competition," the NCAA said in the statement. "The Association works with integrity monitoring services, state regulators and other stakeholders to conduct appropriate due diligence whenever reports are received."

Brendan Sorsby transfer timeline

2022-23: Indiana

Sorsby began his career at Indiana, as he redshirted his first year and played in 10 games in his second year. Over those two seasons, Sorsby produced 1,595 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions.

2024-25: Cincinnati

Sorsby transferred to Cincinatti ahead of the 2024 season, and the quarterback played in 24 games over the next two years. Sorsby produced 5,613 passing yards with 45 passing touchdowns and 12 interceptions, increasing his profile in the game.

2026: Texas Tech

Sorsby once again entered the transfer portal, this time as one of the top quarterbacks on the market. The Red Raiders reportedly gave him between $4 and $6 million to make the move to Lubbock.

Brendan Sorsby NIL deal

Sorsby signed an NIL deal with Texas Tech that will have him earn between $4 and $6 million, per ESPN, but that deal is under scrutiny. Sorsby's former team, Cincinnati, sued the quarterback in February arguing that Sorsby breached their NIL deal by not paying the school a $1 million exit fee to leave for Texas Tech.

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