Big 12 lawsuit against Texas Tech over Brendan Sorsby remains pending
The Big 12 conference’s federal lawsuit against Texas Tech over the handling of quarterback Brendan Sorsby has not been dismissed, and the parties are negotiating issues such as legal fees and potential liability.
A federal complaint filed on June 15 by the Big 12 conference against Texas Tech University remains active, according to a report from ESPN. The lawsuit stems from the conference’s decision to block quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who had obtained a court order restoring his NCAA eligibility, from playing for Texas Tech. After the filing, Texas Tech withdrew Sorsby from the team and encouraged him to enter the NFL supplemental draft.
Conference officials are reportedly concerned about who should bear the legal costs incurred by the dispute. An unnamed Big 12 athletic director told ESPN’s Heather Dinich, “There may need to be consequences for Texas Tech, even if it works out this way. It was pointed out there’s been legal fees involved in this action. Is it right for all 16 schools to share in those legal fees when we didn’t have anything to do with starting it? Those are some of the things that are going to have to be worked out and they will be.”
The Big 12 has indicated it may seek a declaratory judgment to confirm that it did not violate Sorsby’s rights, while Sorsby could potentially pursue claims against the conference for alleged interference or antitrust violations. The outcome may depend on communications exchanged after the court order was issued.
Both the conference and Texas Tech appear poised for further legal negotiations, and Sorsby may also consider additional actions if he believes the conference’s actions harmed his eligibility or professional prospects.