(AsiaGameHub) – Texas Tech has slammed the NCAA for failing to adjust to the current era of mainstream sports betting, even though the university was among the institutions that voted against loosening the governing body’s rigid anti-gambling regulations. Now that star quarterback Brendan Sorsby has violated those rules, the school is pushing for more lenient treatment.
This week, the NCAA rejected Sorsby’s application to have his playing eligibility restored for the 2026 season. In response, Sorsby has filed a legal suit against the organization.
The athlete has received full backing from his university. Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec penned a letter in support of the 22-year-old, who has openly admitted to struggling with a gambling addiction.
Texas Tech President Says Sorsby Deserves Full Support
Sorsby finished a 35-day rehabilitation program last Friday. After arriving back home, he shared a statement on Instagram expressing gratitude to everyone who has continued to stand by him.
“With the support of my coaches, teammates and the university, I’m looking forward to returning to campus in Lubbock,” he wrote.
In his letter addressed to the entire Texas Tech community, Schovanec stated that Sorsby has earned the college’s full backing.
“Brendan himself has been open about his struggle with severe gambling addiction, and we believe his vulnerability deserves to be met with the full weight of this institution’s support,” wrote Schovanec.
He added that Texas Tech will file an appeal against the NCAA’s ruling that makes Sorsby permanently ineligible to compete in college football.
The NCAA Has Not Adjusted to the Modern Era
Schovanec also placed partial blame on the NCAA, stating, “The NCAA bylaws governing Brendan’s case have not adapted to the era of widespread legalized sports betting that this generation of college athletes now has to navigate.”
That said, Texas Tech was among the member colleges that voted last year to roll back a relaxation of the NCAA’s strict no-gambling policy.
In October, the NCAA gave the green light to a rule change that would have allowed student-athletes and athletics department staff to place wagers on professional sports.
Barely a month after the new regulations went into effect, member schools, Texas Tech included, voted to reverse the rule change and revert to a full ban on all forms of gambling.
Sorsby Would Face a Ban Regardless of Rule Changes
Even if student-athletes had been permitted to gamble on pro sports, it would not have prevented Sorsby’s penalty. In his legal complaint against the NCAA, he acknowledges that he began gambling while he was still in high school.
His betting activity ramped up when he enrolled in college, resulting in “thousands” of bets placed on a wide range of events from Turkish basketball and Romanian soccer matches to the MLB draft, and Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
He also confesses to betting on his own team during his time playing for the Indiana Hoosiers. He claims that his betting was a “compulsion” and says he “did not place bets for the purpose of making money.”
Speaking about the Indiana wagers, he said he only bet on his own team to win to ‘feel closer’ to the group. “I rationalized placing those bets as a way to feel more connected to the team, to root for my friends, and to feel like I had a real ‘stake’ in the games that I otherwise was not involved in,” Sorsby said.
As the NCAA has noted, betting on matches involving a player’s own team would lead to a ban in any sports league.
“When it comes to betting on one’s own team, these rules must be enforced in every case for the simple reason that the integrity of the game is at risk,” the NCAA stated. “Every sports league has these protections in place, and the NCAA will continue to apply them equally because every student-athlete competing deserves to know they’re playing a fair game.”
Sorsby argues that the bets were a symptom of his addiction and did not put the integrity of the sport at risk. He says his case should therefore be treated differently from other recent NCAA betting scandals, such as the incident where basketball players participated in a point-shaving scheme.
Sorsby ‘Needs More Than a Slap On The Wrist’
In his latest Instagram post, Sorsby said, “I am deeply sorry to everyone I’ve disappointed and am committed to the hard and necessary work ahead.”
ESPN’s Rece Davis said he believes the college athlete deserves to face consequences and does not accept the excuse given for betting on Indiana.
“I’m sympathetic toward the addiction aspect of it, because it’s the dopamine rush, and the desire to have skin in the game,” Davis said on the most recent episode of ESPN’s College GameDay Podcast. “I thought the feeling and connection to the team by betting on them fell a little flat in terms of his argument, saying that he bet on Indiana because he wasn’t playing and he wanted to feel closer to them. That fell flat to me.”
“While having sympathy for the situation, your behavior still has consequences about what you might sacrifice,” Davis continued. “To me, betting on your team is beyond the pale. No matter how minute it was. While there might be some aspect where you may have some grace to let people work their way back because gambling has become so prevalent in our society, maybe there’s a defined path back as opposed to the lifetime ban. But, it probably needs to be more than a slap on the wrist.”
Head Coach Pushes for Lenient Punishment
Unsurprisingly, Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire is more aligned with Schovanec’s stance than Davis’ take. He praised Sorsby for seeking treatment for his gambling addiction and urged leniency in his penalty.
“We’re here to support Brendan. I do believe that he made a mistake, and whenever that happens, I do believe there should be consequences,” McGuire said. “But it’s my opinion that he shouldn’t be penalized for the rest of this year, or his career.”
Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt similarly called on relevant parties to support Sorsby rather than issue a life-altering punishment.
“There’s penalties for everything that you do, and we would accept that and expect that, but at the same time, let’s help this young man who has been very vulnerable and has admitted to some wrongdoings,” Hocutt said. “Let’s give him a second chance and help him.”
A hearing for the lawsuit Sorsby has brought against the NCAA is scheduled to take place at Lubbock County court on Monday.
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