Brendan Sorsby Discusses Gambling Issues That Ended College Career

Brendan Sorsby has opened up about his gambling problems in a new documentary, which outlines the betting activity that ended his college football career. Brendan Sorsby Reveals Extent of Betting in New Documentary The former Texas Tech quarterback is featured in “The Program: Texas Tech,” a four-part series exploring the controversy over his eligibility and departure from the Red Raiders. The documentary debuts Friday. Gambling had become a constant in Sorsby’s life, he acknowledged. The problem began when he was still in high school in Texas, when trips to casinos turned him onto blackjack. His betting later continued during his college career at Indiana, Cincinnati, and Texas Tech. An NCAA investigation found Sorsby placed more than 9,000 wagers in a four-year span. While he was on the team, he made at least 40 bets of at least $90,000 involving Indiana football. Sorsby has said previously that he did not bet on games in which he participated. However, the NCAA decided the nature and extent of his betting were serious enough to cost him the rest of his college eligibility for good. And he kept gambling after transferring to Texas Tech in January. The move initially made him one of the more notable quarterbacks entering the 2026 season. He also had a lucrative deal to promote his name, image, and likeness, which made his continued betting especially hard to explain. Brendan Sorsby Abandons College Return After Legal Battle Sorsby said his NIL earnings provided financial security but did not prevent the behavior. He stressed that the impetus was the psychological gratification of gambling, not financial need. The fallout only got worse in spring. Sorsby admitted he had a gambling addiction and entered a treatment program as Texas Tech dealt with the fallout from the NCAA decision. A Texas judge temporarily reinstated his eligibility June 8, leading to a return. That ruling kicked off another legal fight involving the Big 12, Texas Tech and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton warned that Texas Tech could face legal problems for disciplining the school in light of the state court order, prompting the conference to file a federal lawsuit. If Sorsby had played, then the dispute would have put the university at risk of conference sanctions. Eventually, Sorsby and Texas Tech threw in the towel. The Big 12 dropped the suit in September, and the case was dismissed with prejudice. The NCAA also found no institutional wrongdoing by Cincinnati regarding Sorsby’s betting. Sorsby then tried to enter the NFL via the 2026 supplemental draft. The league refused to hold the draft and rejected his request to be entered as a free agent. He will instead sit out the 2026 season preparing for the 2027 NFL Draft. Sorsby also talks in the documentary about how his actions affected his teammates, coaches, and family. He said he now feels deep regret for the situation and the spotlight it put on those around him. The series is a behind-the-scenes look at how Sorsby went from a highly touted transfer quarterback to a player whose college career was cut short due to gambling violations.