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After a judge granted a preliminary injunction that will allow Brendan Sorsby to play next season for Texas Tech, the NCAA has already filed a notice of appeal in Texas’ Seventh District indicating this fight is just entering the third round.
Judge Ken Curry’s ruling shocked college athletics, with several Big 12 athletic directors expressing frustration over the decision.
Brendan Sorsby wins injunction against NCAA despite betting on his own team multiple times
Conference officials are also expected to discuss possible next steps during meetings this week, starting Tuesday.
But the university court’s opinion is clearly in favor of NCAA compliance, as they stand firm and pressure the Texas court system for a possible favorable ruling on their appeal.
BRENDAN SORSBY ADMITS TO BETTING NEARLY $90,000 DURING COLLEGE CAREER AS NCAA WRESTLING HEATS UP
Quarterback Brendan Sorsby of the Cincinnati Bearcats speaks to the media during Big 12 Media Days at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on July 8, 2025. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
For many, betting on their own team would seem like a clear path to losing eligibility.
But Sorsby’s lawyers built their case around his struggle with gambling addiction and his mental health, while arguing that the NCAA violated its contractual obligations in the way it handled his suspension.
The strategy worked and the injunction was granted.
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Brendan Sorsby not only bet on his own team, but he also bet on college basketball at both Indiana and Cincinnati, while wagering over $6,000 on other college football games, making over $90,000 in bets in total.
“Did basketball betting influence that two-game proposal?” a Power-4 sports director asked Pak Gazette Digital rhetorically.
And, although the NCAA filed an appeal in the state of Texas on Monday night, we could already have a dilemma on our hands with the current judges presiding over the process.
Texas Tech student could decide NCAA fate in Amarillo
Appeals can often take months to resolve, although there are circumstances where the process could be expedited.
One aspect of the appeal that has already drawn attention is the composition of the appeals court.
UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC INTEGRITY ‘LEAVED THE BUILDING’ AFTER JUDGE ALLOWS SORSBY TO PLAY DESPITE ADMISSION TO THE GAME
All four judges currently serving on the Seventh Court of Appeals attended Texas Tech. While there is no indication that their educational background could influence their decision-making, the optics are notable given what is at stake.
Future Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby yells during the first half of the game between the Houston Cougars and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas, on January 24, 2026. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
It remains to be seen whether NCAA attorneys will attempt to file any recusal motions related to those connections.
After all, a judge in the original court proceeding stepped aside due to ties to Texas Tech.
Whether that becomes a factor in the appeal is something both sides will watch closely.
What about the big 12? it will be a process
While there is clear frustration among some conference officials, Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark and league administrators are expected to proceed carefully in the coming weeks.
TEXAS TECH FOOTBALL’S TOP DONOR SAYS NO ONE HAS ‘AUTHORITY’ TO ‘ENFORCE ANY RULES’ IN COLLEGE SPORTS RIGHT NOW
On Tuesday, Big 12 athletic directors will hold a conference call to discuss Sorsby’s issues and what kind of options they have in the way of punishment.
Because of the court order, neither the NCAA nor the conference can simply ignore the ruling and prevent Sorsby from participating in games or practices.
However, the Big 12 could explore whether conference-specific bylaws, sportsmanship provisions or ethics policies provide grounds for separate disciplinary action.
As we have seen in previous cases, conferences can use their own policies to impose a sanction on a school or student-athlete.
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Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark gestures before the Big 12 championship game between Texas Tech and BYU at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 6, 2025. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
That’s where things get complicated.
Conferences have imposed sanctions independent of NCAA enforcement in the past, but any attempt to sanction Sorsby could open the door to additional litigation. And given the outcome of the initial case, there is no guarantee that a court will side with the conference.
At the same time, officials at the Big 12 conferences must weigh whether refusing to act creates its own set of concerns, especially in the court of public opinion and the weight of other conferences.
For now, Sorsby has the full backing of Texas Tech, and any Big 12 decision would likely be made only after extensive legal review.
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So while a Texas judge might have granted an injunction on Monday, we still have a ways to go before it really suits the Red Raiders.
This one is far from over as the countdown to the 2026 college football season begins.
