Texas Tech University quarterback Brendan Sorsby is checking into a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction, the school announced Monday.
Sorsby's decision as a high-profile college athlete to enter a facility to treat his gambling addiction while enrolled is unprecedented, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN
Sources informed Thamel that Sorsby's decision to seek treatment came in the wake of the discovery of Sorsby making thousands of online bets on a variety of sports via a gambling app, which jeopardizes his eligibility with Texas Tech.
The NCAA is investigating Sorsby's gambling, according to sources, as the organization forbids athletes from betting on both college and pro sports, Thamel reported.
Texas Tech said in a statement that the university "is committed to supporting Brendan through his recovery process and to ensure his long-term health and well-being."
According to ESPN's sources, Sorsby bet on Indiana University football while redshirting for the Hoosiers as a true freshman in 2022, a season in which he played in a single game as a reserve. The bets in 2022, according to sources, were on Indiana to win and none came in a game in which Sorsby appeared.
Sorsby's gambling has not drawn the attention of law enforcement, according to sources, nor has he been linked to anyone attempting to influence the outcome of a game. Sorsby's gambling, sources said, was a steady flurry of small bets over a period of time.
Sorsby transferred from Indiana to the University of Cincinnati after two seasons. The Cincinnati athletic department was alerted in August that star quarterback Brendan Sorsby was gambling prior to the start of the 2025 season, two people with direct knowledge of the situation told Matt Hayes of USA TODAY Sports on Monday.
By knowing Sorsby was gambling and playing him anyway, Cincinnati could face NCAA scrutiny. The penalty for wagers exceeding $200 is eligibility loss, with higher wagers receiving more severe punishment. Sorsby appeared in 12 games for Cincinnati during the 2025 season, Hayes reported.
Related: University of Cincinnati Sues Former QB for $1M Following Transfer to Texas Tech
Per Thamel's reporting, amended NCAA guidelines that came out in 2023 state that "student-athletes who wager on their own games or on other sports at their own schools" face "permanent loss of collegiate eligibility in all sports."
"Betting on Indiana football while on the roster looms as a significant obstacle for Sorsby to return, according to the NCAA's punishment structure," he wrote.
The guidelines in 2023 include guidance that wagers "greater than $800" would lead to the potential loss of 30% of a season of eligibility. For "cumulative wagering" that "greatly exceeded $800," the staff is directed to consider whether additional loss of eligibility, "including permanent ineligibility," is appropriate, Thamel reported.
Other potential gambling punishment guidelines include: If a college football player, for example, bets on a different school in their own sport, "the loss of 50-percent of one season of eligibility will be considered."
According to Thamel, there's no timetable for Sorsby's treatment, as sources say that his situation is being treated as a mental health matter and that Sorsby will be afforded all the time he needs.
"We love Brendan and support his decision to seek professional help," Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire said in a statement. "Taking this step requires courage, and our primary focus is on him as a person. Our program is behind Brendan as he prioritizes his health."
According to Thamel, "Sorsby's transfer to Texas Tech this offseason positioned him as one of the faces of the sport for 2026, as he was No. 1 in ESPN's transfer portal rankings. Sorsby entered the 2026 season projected as a potential high-end NFL draft pick in 2027."
