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GARDEN CITY, N.Y. — A Texas judge’s decision to allow a college quarterback who admitted betting on his own team to remain eligible has exposed what one sports law attorney calls a growing crisis in college athletics.
On June 8, Lubbock County Judge Ken Corry granted a temporary injunction allowing Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby to participate in the 2026 football season, despite an NCAA ruling that would sideline him for gambling-related violations. The NCAA plans to suspend Sorsby for the first two games of the season.
The case is drawing national attention as college sports continue to grapple with the rapid expansion of legalized sports betting and questions about the NCAA’s ability to enforce its own rules.
“This decision is proof that the system is broken,” said Andrew Sack, a New York-based sports law attorney and a Professor of Sports Law at LIU Post. “A player admitted betting on his own team, the NCAA imposed discipline, and a court stepped in to override that process. If athletes can avoid penalties through litigation whenever they disagree with an NCAA ruling, the association’s ability to protect the integrity of competition is in serious jeopardy.”
According to court filings, Sorsby began gambling in 2022 while he was a freshman football player at Indiana University. He acknowledged placing approximately 40 wagers involving his own team and estimated that he bet nearly $90,000 on professional and collegiate sports over a four-year period. Earlier this year, he publicly stated that he struggled with a gambling addiction and sought treatment.
After a sportsbook alerted authorities, the NCAA opened an investigation and informed Texas Tech that Sorsby would be ineligible to compete during the upcoming season. Sorsby subsequently filed suit against the NCAA seeking an injunction that would allow him to play while the case proceeds.
Sack said the ruling could have implications far beyond a single athlete.
“For decades, betting on your own team has been viewed as one of the clearest lines in sports,” Sack said. “The concern isn’t just this case — it’s the precedent. Every disciplinary decision now risks becoming a courtroom battle, and that creates uncertainty for schools, conferences, athletes, and fans.”
As sports gambling becomes increasingly intertwined with college athletics, the case is expected to fuel debate over how far courts should go in reviewing NCAA enforcement actions and whether existing rules are equipped to address the realities of today’s betting environment.
For more information, call Mr. Sack at (516) 526-3319 or The Law Offices of Steven Mitchell Sack at (917) 371-8000.
