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After a judge granted a preliminary injunction that will allow Brendan Sorsby to play this upcoming season for Texas Tech, the NCAA has already filed a notice of appeal in Texas’ Seventh District, indicating that this fight is only in its third round.
Judge Ken Curry’s decision sent shockwaves through college sports, with several Big 12 athletic directors expressing frustration with the decision.
Brendan Sorsby wins court injunction against NCAA despite betting on his own team multiple times
Conference officials are also expected to discuss potential next steps in meetings this week, starting Tuesday.
But the University Court’s opinion is clearly in favor of the NCAA’s compliance, as it persists and pressures the Texas court system for a possible favorable ruling in its appeal.
BRENDAN SORSBY ADMITS TO BETTING NEARLY $90,000 DURING HIS COLLEGE CAREER AS NCAA FIGHT HEATED UP
Quarterback Brendan Sorsby of the Cincinnati Bearcats speaks with the media during Big 12 Media Days at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on July 8, 2025. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
For many, betting on your own team seems like a clear path to losing eligibility.
But Sorsby’s lawyers built their case around his gambling addiction and mental health issues, while claiming the NCAA violated its contractual obligations in how it handled his suspension.
The strategy worked and the injunction was granted.
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Not only did Brendan Sorsby play on his own team, but he also bet on college basketball at Indiana and Cincinnati, while betting over $6,000 on other college football games, placing over $90,000 in bets in total.
“Did hoops betting play a role in this 2-game proposal?,” a Power-4 sports director asked rhetorically to PK Press Club Digital.
And, as the NCAA filed an appeal in the state of Texas on Monday evening, we may already be facing a dilemma with the current judges presiding over the process.
A Texas Tech alumnus could decide the fate of the NCAA in Amarillo
Appeals can often take months to resolve, although there are circumstances in which the process could be expedited.
One aspect of the appeal that has already attracted attention is the composition of the appeals court.
INTEGRITY OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS “LEFT THE BUILDING” AFTER JUDGE LET SORSBY PLAY DESPITE ADMISSION TO THE GAME
All four judges currently serving on the Seventh Court of Appeals attended Texas Tech. Although there is no suggestion that their training could influence their decision-making, the optics are remarkable given the stakes at stake.
Future Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby shouts during the first half of the game between the Houston Cougars and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas on January 24, 2026. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
It remains to be seen whether NCAA lawyers will attempt to pursue any recusal motion related to these ties.
After all, one of the judges in the original injunction proceedings withdrew due to his ties to Texas Tech.
Whether that becomes a factor in the appeal is something both sides will watch closely.
What’s going on with the Big 12? It will be a process
Although there is obvious frustration among some conference officials, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and league administrators should proceed with caution in the coming weeks.
TEXAS TECH FOOTBALL’S MAJOR DONOR SAYS NO ONE HAS “AUTHORITY” TO “ENFORCE RULES” IN COLLEGE SPORTS RIGHT NOW
On Tuesday, Big 12 athletic directors will hold a conference call to discuss Sorsby’s issues and what type of options they have in the form of punishment.
Because of the court injunction, neither the NCAA nor the conference can simply ignore the ruling and prevent Sorsby from participating in games or practices.
However, the Big 12 could determine whether conference-specific regulations, sportsmanship provisions or ethics policies warrant separate disciplinary actions.
As we have seen in the past, conferences can use their own policies to impose a penalty on a school or student-athlete.
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Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark gestures before the Big 12 Championship game between Texas Tech and BYU at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on December 6, 2025. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
This is where things get complicated.
Conferences have imposed sanctions regardless of NCAA enforcement in the past, but any attempt to sanction Sorsby could open the door to additional litigation. And given the outcome of the original case, there is no guarantee that any court will side with the conference.
At the same time, leaders of the 12 major conferences must ask themselves whether refusal to act creates its own set of concerns, particularly in the face of public opinion and the weight of other conferences.
For now, Sorsby has the full support of Texas Tech, and any decision by the Big 12 would likely only be made after extensive legal review.
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So even if a Texas judge could have granted an injunction on Monday, we still have a way to go before he actually suits up for the Red Raiders.
This one is far from over, as the countdown begins to the 2026 college football season.
