Just when the NFL and college football world thought Brendan Sorsby’s 2026 path was straightforward, another curveball arrived. More than a week after leaving Texas Tech to pursue the NFL Supplemental Draft, Sorsby learned that the league will not hold a supplemental draft this year.
The decision deals a major blow to Sorsby’s football future and leaves his plans for 2026 in limbo.
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To pursue eligibility for the Supplemental Draft, Sorsby’s legal team moved to withdraw its lawsuit against the NCAA. Now, with no supplemental draft on the calendar, his next steps remain unclear. By all appearances, his 2026 season may be over before it ever begins.
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell holds a Terrible Towel during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Sorsby Out of Options, With Only Himself to Blame
Sorsby has nobody to blame but himself.
In the NIL era, it’s understandable why he wanted to return for a fifth season of college football. What he failed to recognize, however, was that his decisions would eventually catch up to him. After federal investigators notified the NCAA of his gambling activity, the situation quickly became one of the biggest stories of the spring and summer.
According to reports, Sorsby placed more than $90,000 in sports wagers, including bets involving his own team. He violated one of the NCAA’s clearest and most straightforward rules. While he admitted to the conduct, his response suggested a lack of accountability and awareness of the seriousness of his actions.
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With the support of Texas Tech, Sorsby sued the NCAA in an effort to regain his eligibility. A judge granted a preliminary injunction, and the controversy only intensified from there.
Oct 25, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby points to fans as he walks off the field after defeating the Baylor Bears at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
NFL Decision Sends a Clear Message
If there is one takeaway from this situation, it is that the NFL appears to be sending a message—not only to Sorsby, but to every college athlete.
That message is simple: the NFL will not serve as an escape route for players who violate gambling rules at the collegiate level.
The league has no obligation to hold a supplemental draft, and its decision not to do so speaks volumes. By declining to conduct the draft, the NFL effectively forces Sorsby to wait until 2027 to pursue his professional aspirations.
Sorsby may now explore additional legal avenues, but he probably shouldn’t. This is the situation his own decisions created. The NFL was never required to admit him into the supplemental draft simply because he applied. League officials evidently saw no reason to hold an entire draft for one player who violated one of the few rules in sports that must be enforced without exception.
Sorsby will still be eligible to declare for the 2027 NFL Draft. The question now is what his draft stock and NFL outlook will look like after such a long absence from competitive football.