Former UC Bearcats QB Brendan Sorsby's NCAA career in jeopardy

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Apr 27, 2026 - 20:37

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Former UC Bearcats QB Brendan Sorsby's NCAA career in jeopardy

The University of Cincinnati's 100th Homecoming is set for Oct. 24 at Nippert Stadium when the Texas Tech Red Raiders come to town to face the Cincinnati Bearcats in a Big 12 contest.

That game could highlight former UC Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby, facing his former team as he left UC for a lucrative deal with Texas Tech in January.

Now, that appearance might be in jeopardy as Sorsby has entered a residential gambling addiction facility just a little over a week after playing in Texas Tech's spring football game. As first reported by ESPN's Pete Thamel, the quarterback is under investigation by the NCAA for making thousands of online bets using a gambling app. The bets were made on both pro and college sports.

The NCAA had considered allowing athletes and staff to participate in professional sports gambling but rescinded the rule change in November. College betting where the NCAA sponsors a championship is prohibited.

From the Thamel report, Sorsby allegedly gambled on Indiana games in 2022 before he was with Cincinnati. He bet on the Hoosiers to win and did not bet in the lone game he appeared in that season.

On3's Pete Nakos has reported that Brendan Sorsby was betting balls and strikes at Cincinnati Reds games, which would fall into his timetable with the Cincinnati Bearcats.

On3's Pete Nakos has reported Sorsby was betting balls and strikes at Cincinnati Reds games, which would fall into his timetable with the Cincinnati Bearcats. He's currently not under investigation from law enforcement as it's believed to be numerous small bets. However, it would be an NCAA violation.

This could jeopardize Sorsby's final year of eligibility, in which Texas Tech was set to pay him over $4 million, according to numerous reports.

Texas Tech statement on Brendan Sorsby

"We love Brendan and support his decision to seek professional help," Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said. "Taking this step requires courage, and our primary focus is on him as a person. Our program is behind Brendan as he prioritizes his health. To protect the integrity of the recovery process, Texas Tech will have no further comment on Brendan’s status or treatment progress at this time. We kindly ask the media and the public to respect the privacy of Brendan and his family."

Indiana Hoosiers statement on Brendan Sorsby

Sorsby played at Indiana in 2022 and '23 before transferring to Cincinnati.

"Today, we were made aware of a media report regarding a student-athlete, who last competed for our football program in 2023," the statement read. "Indiana University has no further comment at the time."

Brendan Sorsby played at Indiana in 2022 and '23 before transferring to Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Bearcats' reaction to Brendan Sorsby news

Head coach Scott Satterfield wasn't aware of the allegations against Sorsby when contacted. Otherwise, UC has no comment at the time via senior associate athletic director for communications Zach Stipe.

Sorsby was active on social media throughout the NFL draft weekend and wished several of his former UC teammates well as they were selected. When UC Bearcats men's basketball played Texas Tech in Lubbock on Feb. 16., Sorsby sat courtside and hugged Day Day Thomas before the tip and spoke about his decision to transfer to Texas Tech.

Cincinnati Bearcats sue Brendan Sorsby over buyout

Sorsby's deal with UC before leaving for Texas Tech had a $1 million buyout clause, which UC decided to enforce via lawsuit in late February.

Sorsby's attorney Joe Braun of Strauss Troy filed a motion for dismissal on April 27, the same day the gambling addiction news became public. The filing in part reads:

Compared to the $875,800 that Mr. Sorsby received for his performance under the agreement, UC’s demand for $1 million is exposed as nothing more than an unreasonable and disproportionate penalty. The parties’ contractual intent to pay Mr. Sorsby for playing football was fully realized, and UC’s attempt to now unlawfully penalize Mr. Sorsby for exercising his transfer right under the NCAA’s rules and UC’s efforts to discourage and threaten other players from doing the same thing is invalid as a matter of law. See Noble v. Krizman
UC did try to convince Mr. Sorsby to stay. Doc. 1, ¶¶ 39, 40. UC used the $1 millionliquidated-damages clause in the Agreement to attempt to dissuade him from transferring. Id. at ¶
UC offered to waive the $1 million if he entered the NFL draft rather than transfer to anotherschool. However, UC has no power to ignore the NCAA’s transfer rules, which allow Mr. Sorsbyto transfer and play football at a new school for his final year of eligibility. UC only paid Mr.Sorsby $875,800 in monthly payments under the Agreement for the one season that he fullycompleted. This alone makes UC’s attempt to now try to collect $1 million from Mr. Sorsby apenalty and invalid as a matter of law as it is more money than he was paid by UC under theAgreement.