Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office has issued a warning to the Big 12 Conference, threatening legal action if Texas Tech University faces any sanctions related to quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s participation in the upcoming football season.
The NCAA has barred Sorsby from playing after it was revealed through court documents that he engaged in sports betting activities totaling at least $90,000 while attending Texas Tech and previously at two other universities. Reports indicate that he placed bets on his own team while at Indiana and, while in Texas—where sports betting is prohibited—funded others in different states to place bets on his behalf.
Sorsby has initiated a lawsuit to restore his eligibility, and a state district judge in Lubbock recently ruled in his favor, temporarily allowing him to play for most of the upcoming season. However, the judge mandated that Sorsby must continue treatment for his gambling addiction and sit out the first two games. The NCAA plans to appeal this decision.
A trial regarding the matter has been scheduled for February 8, following the conclusion of the football season.
This ruling has drawn backlash from representatives of other universities, with some threatening to cancel sporting events involving Texas Tech.
In a letter sent on Thursday, Paxton’s office, representing Texas Tech, cautioned the Big 12 against any action that could be viewed as a disadvantage to the university, asserting that such steps would be unlawful. The letter, signed by Thomas York, head of the agency’s antitrust division, indicated that the potential financial repercussions for the Big 12 and its members could exceed $200 million.
This communication follows comments made by Texas Tech Board of Regents Chair Cody Campbell, who stated that the university would pursue legal action if any teams or conferences chose to boycott Texas Tech, labeling such actions as an “antitrust violation” during a recent appearance on a sports talk show.
Neither Texas Tech nor the Big 12 Conference has provided immediate responses to requests for comments.
In late April, Texas Tech announced that Sorsby, 22, had been diagnosed with a gambling disorder and would enter rehabilitation in Arizona.
University athletic director Kirby Hocutt defended Sorsby’s eligibility in a statement on Texas Tech’s website, urging critics to consider the complexities involved in Sorsby’s situation. “A young man in treatment for a clinically diagnosed addiction exercised his legal right to seek a remedy in court, and a judge agreed with him,” Hocutt stated, emphasizing the university’s commitment to supporting Sorsby’s recovery rather than manipulating his eligibility.
Paxton remarked that state antitrust laws shield the university from a “coordinated effort to harm a competitor,” asserting that Texas Tech is acting in accordance with a lawful court order and that no athletic conference has the authority to penalize a member institution for adhering to judicial rulings.
Sorsby, who transferred to Texas Tech from the University of Cincinnati in January, has yet to participate in a game for the team.
His legal representation includes Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, although inquiries regarding Sorsby’s case have been directed to Burrows’ private law practice.
