Big 12 sues Texas Tech over quarterback Brendan Sorsby amid eligibility dispute
A Texas state court issued a temporary injunction allowing quarterback Brendan Sorsby to return to Texas Tech despite the NCAA’s ruling of permanent ineligibility for gambling violations. The injunction was issued by a Lubbock County judge, according to AP News. The NCAA announced it would appeal the district court decision, seeking a final ruling before the NFL supplemental draft deadline, NBC Sports reported. The appeal was later taken up by the Seventh District Court of Appeals, where all four judges are alumni of Texas Tech Law School, NBC Sports added. Texas Tech warned it would sue the Big 12 and any schools that attempted to block Sorsby after the court restored his eligibility, NBC Sports said. The university clarified it had not funded Sorsby’s lawsuit against the NCAA, On3 reported.
Billionaire donor Cody Campbell defended Sorsby’s eligibility and criticized opposing schools, NBC Sports noted. The Big 12 Conference filed a 47-page federal lawsuit against Texas Tech and Attorney General Ken Paxton, seeking an order to enforce its bylaws, On3 reported. After withdrawing his lawsuit against the NCAA, Sorsby announced he would pursue the NFL supplemental draft, CBS Sports wrote. Texas Tech later said it would not seek reimbursement of NIL payments made to Sorsby, NBC Sports reported. The New York Times noted that the Big 12 lawsuit remains pending, with the parties negotiating legal fees and potential liability, reflecting the ongoing dispute.
