In a significant development in the realm of college athletics, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has become embroiled in the controversy surrounding Brendan Sorsby, the Texas Tech University quarterback who recently admitted to making thousands of improper sports bets, including wagers on his own team. This admission led to the NCAA ruling Sorsby ineligible for participation in the upcoming football season.
On June 11, Paxton’s office issued a warning to the Big 12 Conference, cautioning that any attempts to penalize Texas Tech for allowing Sorsby to play would be considered “unlawful” and could result in damages exceeding $200 million.
Interestingly, just a day prior to this letter, Cody Campbell, the chair of the Texas Tech Board of Regents and a vocal supporter of Sorsby, contributed $274,300 to a fundraising committee for Paxton’s U.S. Senate campaign, as reflected in newly filed campaign finance records.
Campbell, who has a history as a Texas Tech lineman and has previously contributed over $25 million to the university’s athletics, was appointed to the Board of Regents in 2021 and ascended to the chair position in 2025. He has consistently defended Sorsby throughout the latter’s eligibility issues, portraying him as a student recovering from addiction and framing the situation as a product of a flawed system.
In addition to his support for Texas Tech, Campbell has been a notable donor to the Republican Party, having contributed $30,000 to Paxton’s state campaigns since 2016. In the current Republican primary for the U.S. Senate, he has made donations to both Paxton and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt. His donation to Paxton Victory on June 10 appears to be among his most significant contributions to date. Campbell has also contributed nearly $700,000 to the Trump 47 Committee Inc. and $500,000 to MAGA Inc., Donald Trump’s main super PAC.
Paxton, who has typically struggled to raise substantial campaign funds, is currently engaged in a competitive race against Democratic nominee James Talarico, who has amassed record-breaking fundraising totals. Between April and June, Talarico’s campaign raised over $30 million — three times Paxton’s total. Recent polling indicates that the two candidates are nearly tied, although no Democrat has won a statewide election in Texas since 1994.
Texas Tech announced in May that Sorsby was found ineligible to play this upcoming season after court documents revealed he had placed at least $90,000 in sports bets while at the university and at two other institutions. Notably, he placed bets on his own team while at Indiana, and in Texas, where sports betting is illegal, he utilized intermediaries in other states to place bets on his behalf. The university expressed its intention to “quickly initiate the reinstatement process.”
After taking a leave of absence for inpatient treatment for his gambling addiction, Sorsby initiated legal action to regain his eligibility. On June 8, a state district judge in Lubbock temporarily halted the NCAA’s prohibition against Sorsby playing for the majority of the upcoming season.
The NCAA has since appealed this ruling, emphasizing its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of college athletics against actions that undermine its principles, such as betting on one’s own sport.
Following Paxton’s warning to the Big 12, his office, which includes the chiefs of the antitrust and general litigation divisions, stated that it had been informed of discussions among Big 12 officials regarding potential sanctions against Texas Tech for supporting Sorsby as a student-athlete.
In response, the Big 12 filed a lawsuit against Paxton, Texas Tech, the Texas Tech University System, Chancellor Brandon Creighton, President Lawrence Schovanec, and Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt. The conference’s complaint asserted that it has no desire to endorse what it deems unethical and unlawful behavior, arguing that Paxton and Texas Tech are infringing upon its First Amendment rights to enforce its own bylaws.
On June 15, Campbell announced that Sorsby would not be part of the Texas Tech football team this fall due to the impending June 22 deadline for the NFL’s supplemental draft, rather than any legal implications.
“The bottom line is that Texas Tech acted with complete integrity throughout this entire process,” Campbell stated. “We did not violate any rules, laws, or ethical standards. We take pride in representing a university that supports its students in the manner that we do.”
