Sorsby, who transferred to Texas Tech during the offseason, is projected to be a first-round pick for the 2027 NFL draft
Credit: AP Photo/Mitch Alcala
NEED TO KNOW
- Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is stepping away from the Red Raiders team in order to seek treatment for a gambling addiction
- Texas Tech’s coach said in a statement, “We love Brendan and support his decision to seek professional help”
- This comes after the NCAA reportedly launched an investigation into Sorsby for allegedly placing thousands of online bets, which could impact his player eligibility
A top college football player is stepping away from the sport in order to address a gambling addiction.
Texas Tech star quarterback Brendan Sorsby is taking an immediate leave of absence from the Red Raiders team, the university announced, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, ESPN and Penn Live.
Sorsby, who is currently one of the top quarterbacks in college football and is expected to be a first-round pick for the 2027 NFL draft, will reportedly check into a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction, per the outlets.
PEOPLE has reached out to Texas Tech and the NCAA for a statement.
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"We love Brendan and support his decision to seek professional help," Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire said in a statement, per ESPN and the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. "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."
Sources told ESPN that the announcement comes after the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) began investigating Sorsby for gambling — which is prohibited for athletes at both the collegiate and professional level — and could jeopardize his football eligibility.
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The NCAA told ESPN in a statement that while it will not “comment on current, pending or potential investigations,” it “takes sports betting very seriously and is committed to the protection of student-athlete well-being and the integrity of competition.”
According to the outlet, the Red Raiders quarterback allegedly made thousands of online bets on various sports on a sports gambling app, including on several Indiana University Hoosier basketball games.
The bets, described by ESPN sources as “a steady flurry of small bets over a period of time,” were reportedly made when Sorsby played as a freshman at the university in 2022. However, according to ESPN, Sorsby did not bet on the one Indiana University football game that he appeared in as a reserve.
Sources told ESPN that Sorsby’s participation in gambling has not drawn the attention of law enforcement and he hasn’t been linked to anyone attempting to influence the outcome of a game.
Credit: AP Photo/Mitch Alcala
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It is unclear how long Sorsby will seek treatment, and this incident is being handled as a mental health matter, sources told ESPN.
Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech during the offseason from Cincinnati after making a name for himself on the football field. Following his transfer, he was projected to be one of the highest-paid players in college football, in-line to make $5 million, per ESPN.
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