College football fans are upset about Brendan Sorsby being eligible to play for Texas Tech this fall — and they aren’t alone.
According to a Tuesday report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Big 12 athletic directors held a “spirited call” with conference commissioner Brett Yormark to express their frustration with Sorsby’s newfound eligibility for the 2026 season.
Sorsby, who transferred to Texas Tech from Cincinnati in January, was previously ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA following investigations of his gambling activity, which included him betting on Indiana football games while a member of the Hoosiers’ program in 2022.
However, Sorsby found favor in the eyes of retired Texas judge Ken Curry, who granted the senior quarterback a preliminary injunction “that prevents the NCAA from punishing him for violating its rules on sports gambling,” according to ESPN’s Max Olson.
“The call underscored that the league’s athletic directors — except Tech’s Kirby Hocutt — are united around the notion that Sorsby should not be eligible for next season,” wrote Thamel, who also said the Big 12 ADs were “disgusted,” “disheartened” and “sad” regarding the situation.
The Athletic reported that Hocutt was part of the call and “reiterated the Red Raiders’ support of Sorsby.”
Yormark has since confirmed that the call did take place.
“We had a thoughtful and productive conversation with our athletics directors today as we continue to work through the broader implications of this situation,” Yormark said Tuesday in a prepared statement.
“Many of our athletics directors voiced their opinions. We will continue to have open and honest dialogue amongst the group and until there is something to report, these conversations will remain within the conference.”
Thamel has reported that Big 12 ADs “seem to favor” the conference stepping in and preventing Sorsby from playing this season.
“The Big 12’s options also could include an interpretation of league bylaw 3.6, which allows the conference autonomy for discipline such as ‘prohibitions on appearance in postseason events or televised events, restrictions on revenue distributions and limitations on recruiting or scholarships,’” wrote Thamel.
While currently eligible to play in 2026, Sorsby will be suspended for Texas Tech’s first two games as a penalty for his gambling.
Per The Athletic, Judge Curry has restricted the NCAA from further penalizing Sorsby, but “it’s not clear whether that order extends to conferences or the College Football Playoff.”
Whatever decision is made by the Big 12 must be approved by university presidents through a vote, per The Athletic. Texas Tech has publicly backed its new quarterback, but the school could also elect to bar him from playing on its own.
“I think there is real pressure on (Texas) Tech to not play him, but it’s going to be Tech’s call,” an anonymous Big 12 administrator told The Athletic. “And if they stick with him, will the presidents and the Big 12 decide to come over the top? That’s what I don’t know.”
According to Thamel, Tuesday’s call is “the first in three expected steps by the Big 12 to potentially address the Sorsby situation.” Yormark will meet with the conference’s executive board on Thursday, and the full board of school presidents and chancellors are expected to meet next week.
“This is our chance as the Big 12 to do the right thing. People are counting on us to take a stance. That’s kind of the vibe I got,” an anonymous Big 12 administrator told The Athletic. “It’s not Texas Tech. It’s not Brendan Sorsby. It’s this line in the sand that either we hold it now or we’ll never hold it.”
The Big 12 logo is displayed on a pylon during the Big 12 championship game between BYU and Texas Tech held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
