By now, almost every sports fan is familiar with the Brendan Sorsby college football gambling controversy. For those who need a quick recap: after transferring to Texas Tech this offseason to play quarterback, Sorsby was revealed to have placed bets on games involving his former team, Indiana. The NCAA subsequently investigated the allegations, finding them to be factual, and declared him ineligible for the upcoming season. However, presumably supported by major financial backing from a billionaire Texas Tech donor, Sorsby challenged the decision in court. Just last week, a judge in a local court issued an injunction allowing Sorsby to play this coming season after serving a two-game suspension.
The reaction to the ruling has been immediate and intense, with athletic directors across the nation speaking out. While a small minority has expressed support for Sorsby and Texas Tech, the vast majority have voiced significant opposition. Notably, Georgia’s athletic director has announced that no Georgia teams will schedule future games against Texas Tech in any sport. Meanwhile, the Big 12 is holding meetings to determine whether it will take any formal action against one of its own. Pressure is mounting as other major conferences—most notably the SEC and the Big Ten—are reportedly considering a complete boycott of future matchups against the program. There is also speculation that if Sorsby is permitted to play, the College Football Playoff committee might intentionally exclude Texas Tech from the postseason, even if the team would have otherwise qualified.
The Texas State Attorney General—currently campaigning for the U.S. Senate and backed by the same billionaire donor funding the Texas Tech football program—has threatened legal action against any Big 12 team that refuses to play games against the university this upcoming season. This maneuver has triggered a regional political standoff, with Oklahoma’s Attorney General, who is simultaneously running for governor, pledging to intervene and provide legal defense for any teams targeted by the State of Texas in this dispute. Amid all the uproar, Tech continues to support Sorsby and states that he will remain with the team and will be allowed to play for them this coming season.
This situation highlights a fundamental issue regarding the integrity of the sport, as betting on one’s own team has long been considered an absolute red line that athletes can never cross, at any level of competition. Tech argues that continuing to play with his teammates is essential for Sorsby’s recovery as he addresses his gambling addiction. Beyond the immediate controversy, there is significant intrigue regarding Sorsby’s professional future: if he ultimately decides to forgo his final season of college football, he could potentially enter the NFL’s supplemental draft by the June 22nd deadline. Should he take that path, reports suggest he would attract interest from several NFL franchises, possibly including our very own Miami Dolphins.
So this evening’s Phinsider Question(s) Of The Day is:
**What is your take on the Brendan Sorsby controversy? Should he be allowed to play college football this coming fall? What should Texas Tech, other Big 12 teams, the Big 12 conference, or the other conferences do or not do about this situation? Should Sorsby just cut his losses at this point, avoiding further controversy that will likely drag on through the upcoming season and enter the NFL Supplemental Draft? If Sorsby were to enter the supplemental draft, would you be in favor of the Dolphins bidding on Sorsby in an attempt to draft him?**
_As a side note, any team that “bids” on a player in the supplemental draft does so by bidding a draft pick from the following year’s draft. The team with the highest bid by round (who also holds the highest slot in that round if another team bids that same round’s pick) will be awarded the player and will then lose the corresponding pick in the following year’s draft._
Please share your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-
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