Texas Tech Defends Playing QB Brendan Sorsby Amid Gambling Addiction: 'It's Not Murder'

June 15, 2026

Texas Tech's leadership is standing by its plan to play quarterback Brendan Sorsby next season while he treats a gambling addiction — insisting they are supporting his recovery, not 'engineering his eligibility,' as the NCAA vows to appeal a court order that restored his eligibility.

HOUSTON (AP) — Top leadership at Texas Tech defended their plan to play quarterback Brendan Sorsby next season while he treats a gambling addiction, insisting they are not trying to "engineer his eligibility" through the courts and dismissing widespread criticism of the Red Raiders — criticism that includes talk among rival schools of boycotting their teams.

Speaking to fans and boosters at the Houston Touchdown Club, coach Joey McGuire acknowledged the "rage" surrounding the situation. Athletic directors across college football have argued that the NCAA's ban on players who gamble should remain sacrosanct, and that a court order won this week by Sorsby to restore his eligibility crossed a line that should never be crossed.

Texas Tech officials canceled a news conference that had been scheduled before the luncheon. After his speech, McGuire said he would only take questions from "Red Raider fans," and answered them for about 10 minutes.

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Cody Campbell, the billionaire Texas Tech booster and chairman of its board of regents, issued a statement, as did athletic director Kirby Hocutt, who said he wanted to "offer a few facts that seem to be getting lost in the noise" and noted that the school is not part of Sorsby's lawsuit against the NCAA.

Under the court order, Sorsby will be suspended for the first two games of the season. The NCAA plans to appeal the ruling, with President Charlie Baker telling reporters in Las Vegas that the case illustrated "a new low" in college sports.

McGuire likened Sorsby's recovery from his addiction to fellow Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond's recovery from knee surgery. Both he and Hocutt said Sorsby would be evaluated — "his recovery, compliance and readiness," the athletic director said — before he is cleared to play in Week 3 against Houston on Sept. 18, the team's Big 12 opener.

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Campbell, a key figure in helping Texas Tech land top players over the past two years, took a far more aggressive and defiant stance on a podcast appearance with Dan Dakich.

He also addressed reports that schools have discussed boycotting Texas Tech in light of the ruling, suggesting that could open the door to legal action:

Hocutt, meanwhile, struck back at those who questioned what the situation does to the integrity of college football.

McGuire was adamant that the most important thing in this story is supporting Sorsby through his "darkest times."

McGuire added that Sorsby was "back in the building" after spending time away from the facilities while dealing with his issues, and said he sees a changed person.

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McGuire also said Sorsby wants to address fans of his new school.

The injunction comes with conditions: Sorsby must continue counseling for his gambling and participate in peer support through Gamblers Anonymous or a similar group. He must also continue treatment to address "the underlying anxiety that served as the primary driver of (his) gambling behavior."

McGuire provided more detail on the restrictions that will be placed on the quarterback when he returns. He said there will be technology on any device Sorsby has "for us to know everything that's going on." Sorsby, who reportedly signed a multimillion-dollar deal to join the Red Raiders after two years at Cincinnati and two years at Indiana, will also have someone accounting for "every single penny that he has."