Big 12 pushes for Texas Tech, Brendan Sorsby punishment in legal filing

Brendan Sorsby secured a temporary injunction to remain eligible for Texas Tech’s 2026 season after a Texas judge sided against NCAA constraints. The Big 12 then filed a federal complaint seeking a declaratory judgment to enforce its bylaws and potentially sanction Texas Tech if Sorsby plays. Possible penalties include monetary fines and a ban from the Big 12 Championship Game, the filing states, while Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton warned such moves could trigger antitrust challenges. Sorsby had transferred from Cincinnati and previously gambled on his own teams as a freshman at Indiana, actions NCAA rules prohibit.

The Big 12 noted that presidents and athletic directors advised Tech not to play Sorsby, but the school has not agreed. The league argues that permitting play could cause reputational harm and irreparable damage to trust and seeks authority to enforce its bylaws without triggering antitrust issues, outlining the potential consequences ahead of any formal conference vote.