The University of Cincinnati is suing former Bearcat quarterback Brendan Sorsby for breach of contract following his transfer to Texas Tech.
As reported by local NBC affiliate WLTW, the lawsuit seeks $1 million from Sorsby, who transferred to Texas Tech with one season remaining on a revenue-sharing agreement with Cincinnati. Reports indicated that Sorsby was among the highest paid transfers in the country this offseason, according to WLTW's Matthew Dietz.
“Cincinnati Athletics is proud to partner with its student-athletes and honors the contractual commitments it makes to them. We expect student-athletes and their representatives to do the same," a statement from the UC athletics department said Wednesday, as reported by WLTW. "In his lucrative NIL agreement with Cincinnati Athletics, Brendan Sorsby committed to stay and play for two seasons as a proud Bearcat representative. He also agreed that if he left the university before that time, he would pay the university a specific amount for the substantial harm that his breach would cause. Cincinnati Athletics intends to enforce that contractual commitment. As stewards of the university’s resources, the Athletics Department has a duty to do so. We thank Brendan for his time at Cincinnati and wish him success in the future,”
The UC's lawsuit claims that Sorsby has not paid the university "the liquidated damages" that UC says it is owed after his transfer. The university is seeking a jury trial in the case.
As reported by Dietz, Sorsby threw 27 touchdown passes and only five interceptions in 2025, leading the Bearcats to seven wins and a trip to the Liberty Bowl.
After starting his career at Indiana, Sorsby transferred to Cincinnati ahead of the 2024 season, completing 64 of his passes for 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his first season with the Bearcats.
As reported by FootballScoop, Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech in January while being under contract with the Bearcats through Dec. 15, 2026. His deal called for a $1 million buyout should Sorsby transfer to another institution, and Sorsby's representatives told Cincinnati he does not intend to pay it.
Texas Tech was aware of Sorsby's buyout and factored it into his rev-share allotment toward Sorsby. College Sports Commission guidelines mandate that the Red Raiders deduct the buyout from its $20.5 million cap for the 2025-26 fiscal year, according to FootballScoop's Zach Barnett.
Sorsby is expected to make $4 million in rev share and NIL in his one season as a Red Raider. He made a reported $1.5 million in 2025 at Cincinnati, Barnett reported.
