Immediately following the Big 12's filing of a lawsuit against Texas Tech and the Texas attorney general over quarterback Brendan Sorsby's eligibility, Sorsby announced Monday that he is parting ways with the Red Raiders and will enter the NFL supplemental draft.
The Big 12 early Monday had issued a filing seeking a "declaratory judgment that the First Amendment protects the Conference's right to invoke its authority under its Bylaws to sanction [Texas Tech] related to its handling of the sports betting activity discussed in this Complaint, including if TTU fields a student-athlete in Big 12 competitions who has engaged in collegiate sports betting activity."
Sorsby's decision should put the conference's legal challenge to rest.
RELATED: Big 12 Sues Texas Tech, Texas AG Over Sorsby Eligibility
Following the announcement of Sorsby's decision, Texas Tech released a statement quoting both president Lawrence Shovanec and athletics director Kirby Hocutt.
"When Brendan's lawsuit resulted in the granting of a temporary injunction, we found ourselves in a difficult situation," the statement read. "With his health and wellness as our top priority, we supported him in spite of very different perspectives and opinions. Our position was challenged by many, but our support for him never changed."
Before Sorsby's decision to leave the Red Raiders was announced, the Big 12's presidents met Monday to discuss potential punishments with no definitive outcome.
"Universities should not field players who have bet on their own team's games in college athletics," the Big 12 board of directors said in a statement. "This situation is evolving with pending legal matters and the upcoming start of the football season, and the Conference hopes for a timely resolution of these issues. The Board continues to keep all options on the table."
The Big 12's legal jockeying comes after an appeals court judge granted Sorsby an injunction that restored his eligibility, despite Sorsby having admitted that he gambled over $90,000 on games he played in while at Indiana.
The NCAA had already appealed the appeals court's ruling, stating it "corrupts the integrity of sports." AL.com reported that NCAA president Charlie Baker cited the ruling as the latest reason why the NCAA needs the Protect College Sports Act.
