Brendan Sorsby Exits College Football Amid Big 12's Bold Legal Action

DENVER, Colo. — The saga surrounding quarterback Brendan Sorsby reached an unexpected conclusion on Monday night in the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton, where NCAA Division I conference commissioners gathered for their annual meetings. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark addressed the situation as the conference prepared to move forward, stating, “It’s been a challenging week for both our conference and the college athletics landscape. The Big 12 looks forward to moving ahead as 16 strong. We wish Brendan Sorsby success in his future endeavors.”

Yormark, while keeping details limited during a brief interaction, expressed appreciation for the legal expertise of Sidley Austin, the firm that aided the Big 12 in filing a significant legal complaint in federal court earlier on Monday. This legal maneuver reportedly played a crucial role in encouraging Sorsby to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft. The complaint specifically targeted Texas Tech, its officials, and the Texas attorney general's office, seeking to prevent any interference with the Big 12's authority to impose sanctions on the school.

Interestingly, the catalyst for the Big 12's lawsuit was a letter from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, which threatened legal repercussions if the conference moved to penalize Texas Tech. Legal analysts noted that this letter inadvertently cleared a path for the Big 12's legal action, which sought no damages but aimed to assert the conference's right to enforce its bylaws in light of Paxton's threats. Tom Mars, a prominent attorney in sports law, remarked, “In 40 years as a lawyer, I’ve never seen such a devastating legal filing come out of left field. It was as creative as anything I’ve ever seen.”

Filed around 1 a.m. ET, the lawsuit was officially communicated to Texas Tech president Lawrence Schovanec later that morning. Following a call with Schovanec, the day quickly escalated as he participated in discussions with fellow Big 12 presidents about potential sanctions against Texas Tech. In a parallel development, the NCAA also filed an emergency appeal in Texas state court, urging a swift resolution regarding Sorsby’s eligibility before the college football season commenced.

As pressure mounted, both the Kansas and Utah attorneys general publicly expressed their support for the Big 12’s decision to sanction Texas Tech, while Michigan's volleyball program canceled an upcoming match against the school. Sorsby’s choice to apply for the NFL Supplemental Draft signifies the end of a tumultuous four-month ordeal that began with an NCAA investigation into his gambling activities. With the legal landscape shifting, Sorsby’s team is expected to withdraw his state court lawsuit, effectively rendering him ineligible for college play and clearing his path to the draft.