Texas Tech transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby has voluntarily checked into a residential treatment program to address a gambling addiction, multiple sources confirmed Monday, marking the latest high-profile case involving a college football player and sports wagering.
Sorsby, who joined the Red Raiders as a graduate transfer after time at Indiana and Cincinnati, is also the subject of an active NCAA investigation. The probe stems from the discovery that he placed thousands of bets through a legal gambling app, including wagers on Indiana football while he was a redshirting true freshman with the Hoosiers in 2022.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Sorsby’s 2022 bets were placed exclusively on Indiana to win. None involved games in which he appeared; the former four-star recruit saw action in only a single contest that season as a reserve quarterback behind then-starter Connor Bazelak. At the time, Sorsby was preserving his redshirt and was not on the field for any of the Hoosiers’ other games.
The NCAA’s investigation is focused on potential violations of its sports-wagering rules, which strictly prohibit student-athletes from betting on any collegiate contest, including those involving their own team. Even though Sorsby did not play in the games he wagered on, the policy makes no distinction based on participation when the athlete is a member of the program. Penalties for such violations can range from temporary suspensions to permanent ineligibility, depending on the scope and severity of the activity.
Sorsby’s decision to seek residential treatment comes as college athletics continues to grapple with the explosion of legal sports betting nationwide. Since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports wagering in 2018, states have rapidly expanded access to mobile apps and in-game betting options, creating new challenges for compliance departments and athlete mental-health resources. Multiple high-profile cases in recent years — involving players from football, basketball and baseball — have prompted the NCAA and individual conferences to strengthen education efforts and monitoring programs, yet incidents persist.
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire has not publicly commented on Sorsby’s situation as of Monday afternoon. The Red Raiders, who open spring practice this week, are expected to address the quarterback’s status in the coming days. Sorsby arrived in Lubbock as a potential immediate contributor after throwing for 1,567 yards and 12 touchdowns in a reserve role at Cincinnati last season.
The timing of the disclosure is notable. With Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals now allowing athletes to earn significant money while still enrolled, the financial pressures and temptations surrounding gambling have grown more complex. Sorsby’s case highlights a recurring tension: athletes who are old enough to legally bet in many states but remain bound by NCAA amateurism rules that treat any collegiate sports wager as a serious violation.
No timeline has been released for Sorsby’s return to the program or potential reinstatement. A Texas Tech spokesperson said the university is cooperating fully with the NCAA and supporting Sorsby through his treatment process.
