Brendan Sorsby’s Gambling Addiction Could Result in Change of Plans for Texas Tech

The Texas Tech Red Raiders were expected to have a major upgrade at quarterback for the 2026 college football season, but those plans may be in jeopardy after Brendan Sorsby entered residential treatment for a gambling addiction.

“We love Brendan and support his decision to seek professional help,” head coach Joey McGuire said in a statement. “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.”

The University said in its own statement, “Texas Tech’s primary focus remains on fostering an environment where student-athletes feel empowered to prioritize their mental health and seek professional assistance. To protect the integrity of the recovery process, Texas Tech will have no further comment on Brendan’s status or treatment progress at this time. We kindly ask the media and the public to respect the privacy of Brendan and his family.”

Cincinnati, Sorsby’s most recent team, has not commented publicly on the news.

Sorsby Reportedly Bet On His Own Team

On3’s Pete Nakos reported that Sorsby placed bets on Indiana while on the Hoosiers’ roster in 2022. The bets in 2022 were on Indiana to win and none came in a game in which Sorsby appeared, according to Pete Thamel. This could jeopardize his eligiblity due to NCAA guidelines from 2023 on sports betting, which note: “Student-athletes who engage in activities to influence the outcomes of their own games or knowingly provide information to individuals involved in sports betting activities will potentially face permanent loss of collegiate eligibility in all sports. This would also apply to student-athletes who wager on their own games or on other sports at their own schools.”

Sorsby’s Other Betting Habits

As for some of the bets, Sorsby attended Cincinnati Reds games on repeated occasions, and placed live wagers on balls and strikes, according to reports. The bets were small in nature, ranging between under $1 to $2.50 per pitch.

Sorsby’s gambling is not tied to influencing the outcome of games and is not under investigation from law enforcement. There is currently no reported timetable for when Sorsby is expected to return to the Texas Tech football program.

Sorsby was the crown jewel of the quarterback position in the transfer portal, reportedly receiving upwards of $5 million to join the Red Raiders, who are trying to improve on a stellar 2025 season where they reached the College Football Playoff, before losing to the Oregon Ducks.