Brendan Sorsby is heading to the NFL supplemental draft. The legal battle is over, but the fallout for Texas Tech is not. The Big 12 has taken a stand against the Red Raiders, along with other programs. Athletic directors from Nebraska and Georgia have publicly addressed a boycott of Texas Tech. It goes beyond football, too. About an hour after Michigan joined the other schools, Sorsby decided that he would not play for the Red Raiders. Read more: Texas Tech’s Sorsby gamble cost them more than a quarterback.
Texas Tech president Lawrence Schovanec and Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt released a joint statement on Monday, June 15.
“When Brendan’s lawsuit resulted in the granting of a temporary injunction, we found ourselves in a difficult situation,” they said. “With his health and wellness as our top priority, we supported him in spite of very different perspectives and opinions. Our position was challenged by many, but our support for him never changed. We will continue to extend all available resources that Brendan had as a student and athlete to ensure his transition is as successful as possible.”
Sorsby’s decision to enter the NFL supplemental draft ends that part of the saga, but it might not be the end of the boycott. West Virginia is right in the thick of it as a member of the Big 12. They have a road football game in Lubbock, Texas, on November 7.
Does the Sorsby saga change how WVU should view that game, and others against Texas Tech?
The Sorsby story
Sorsby violated NCAA rules that strictly prohibit student-athletes, coaches, and athletics department staff from wagering on any NCAA-sponsored sport. He also gambled under the legal age of 21 and used third parties, which is a separate violation in itself. Here is a quick rundown of the Sorsby timeline:
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- Sorsby acknowledged making thousands of bets worth at least $90,000 on college and pro sports, including some on his own team when he was a freshman at Indiana.
- He was ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA.
- Sorsby and his legal team won an injunction in a Lubbock district court. The judge reinstated his eligibility on the condition that he serve a two-game suspension.
- Following the injunction, the Big 12 sued Texas Tech in federal court. Georgia, Nebraska, and Michigan joined a growing boycott, and Texas Tech informed him he would not play for the program in 2026.
- Sorsby officially declared his intent to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft.
West Virginia’s options
West Virginia has a couple options. They can play Texas Tech and continue to schedule games against the Red Raiders across all sports, or they can join the boycott. Sorsby will not play in that game for the Red Raiders, but they are still the favorites to win the conference. It may not matter who lines up under center for them. WVU also needs conference wins, and it looks like that road game could be a chance to win a very important one.
Related: Tale of the Tape 2.0 – Coastal Carolina
They also have the option to follow the proper channels that the Big 12 is taking. The courts should issue a ruling, and the teams in the conference can wait for it. Only teams outside the Big 12 have come out against how Texas Tech handled the situation, and it seems that teams within the conference are waiting to see how the courts rule.
The case for the Mountaineers not to play Texas Tech is about what the silence means. The boycotts are not just about Sorsby, and now that he is gone, it is clear they are about Texas Tech’s decision to back him. Reports indicated that 15 of the 16 Big 12 teams agreed on some form of discipline for Texas Tech should Sorsby play.
In my opinion, it is clear where WVU stands, but they are waiting to take action in unison with the Big 12.
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