Texas Tech transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby will take an “immediate indefinite leave of absence” from the football program to enter a residential treatment facility for gambling addiction, the school and Sorsby announced in a joint statement Monday.
“We love Brendan and support his decision to seek professional help,” head football coach Joey McGuire said. “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.”
Sorsby made thousands of bets through an online app, including for multiple sports, according to ESPN, including betting on an Indiana football game while he was redshirting for the Hoosiers in 2022. The NCAA has reportedly opened an investigation into Sorsby’s betting activity, as college athletes are not allowed to bet on college or pro sports. Sorsby is in jeopardy of losing his remaining NCAA eligibility.
“Due to confidentiality rules put in place by NCAA member schools, the NCAA will not comment on current, pending or potential investigations,” the NCAA said in a statement to Front Office Sports on Monday. “However, the NCAA takes sports betting very seriously and is committed to the protection of student-athlete well-being and the integrity of competition. The Association works with integrity monitoring services, state regulators and other stakeholders to conduct appropriate due diligence whenever reports are received.”
The investigation would be one of dozens the NCAA has undertaken over the past several months related to sports betting activity, whether it be players betting on sports themselves or sharing proprietary information with sports bettors who are part of a nationwide sports gambling ring.
After a vote from Division I membership in November, the NCAA rescinded a rule that would allow college athletes to bet on select professional sports. Meanwhile, college athletes nationwide are ignoring these bans.
Sorsby was slated to be a key member of the Texas Tech program this upcoming year, which has made major strides thanks in part to increased financial resources. This past offseason, Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech from Cincinnati, and was considered the top prize in the transfer portal at the time. Cincinnati has since filed a lawsuit against him alleging he breached his NIL (name, image, and likeness) contract with the Bearcats by transferring to Texas Tech.
