Texas Tech Leaders Stand Firm Behind QB Brendan Sorsby Amid Opposition

Texas Tech released a video Thursday night in which school officials defended the university’s integrity and expressed continued support for quarterback Brendan Sorsby. The more than 20-minute video came in response to criticism from other Big 12 programs and across college sports regarding the likelihood of Sorsby playing for the Red Raiders this fall.

Appearing in the video were athletic director Kirby Hocutt, football coach Joey McGuire, university president Lawrence Schovanec, and senior associate athletic director for student-athlete health and wellness Grant Stovall. Hocutt acknowledged that he understood why some of his fellow athletic directors had spoken against allowing Sorsby to play this season.

On Monday, a Texas judge granted Sorsby a temporary injunction that permits him to play in 2026 despite the NCAA ruling him ineligible for widespread sports wagering violations. Those violations included 40 bets involving Indiana football while he was a freshman in 2022. The NCAA has appealed the injunction, and Sorsby is required to sit out the first two games against Abilene Christian and Oregon State.

Several athletic directors within the Big 12 have voiced opposition to playing Texas Tech this year. The league’s presidents met Thursday and scheduled another session next week to discuss possible sanctions against the school for allowing Sorsby to compete following the judge’s ruling.

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Hocutt stated in the video, “There’s no reason whatsoever to question the integrity of our athletics department, or the competitive product that we put on the fields or on the courts each and every time that we go out.” He added that the “integrity of the game is sacred” and that Texas Tech has taken significant steps to ensure monitoring and compliance measures for Sorsby’s return.

Officials in the video discussed Sorsby’s addiction and recovery, explaining why they believe he benefits from being in the team environment. Hocutt said he had met several times with Sorsby since his return to Lubbock following a 35-day inpatient rehabilitation program, during which Sorsby was diagnosed with gambling and anxiety disorders.

Hocutt said, “He’s made mistakes and he looked me in my eye this morning, again, and reassured me that he has done nothing to jeopardize the integrity of a game that he’s competed in.” He continued by clarifying that Sorsby “has not given information about a game that he’s competed in” nor “affected the outcome of any game he’s competed in.”

Stovall outlined a series of conditions attached to Sorsby’s reinstatement, including installing software on his phone and other devices to monitor activity and prohibit access to wagering platforms. Additionally, Sorsby participates in outpatient clinical care as well as individual and group therapy through Texas Tech.

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According to Hocutt, Sorsby went to the athletic facility immediately after the injunction to meet with information technology and compliance personnel and have the monitoring software installed. McGuire noted, “It’s day by day. We have a long time before we have to think about when he’s going to play football again. We have a long time to continue to work with him to help him with this addiction. … I’m glad he’s back.”

Hocutt explained that the university played no part in Sorsby’s legal pursuit of the injunction, describing the process as “legitimate.” He added, “It was a judge that is not from Lubbock, Texas. It was a judge that actually lives 300 miles from Texas Tech University. The judge heard the arguments and ultimately made the ruling.” Hocutt acknowledged public disagreement with the decision but reaffirmed the legitimacy of the legal process.

McGuire said that the injunction lifted “a huge weight” from Sorsby’s shoulders. He recounted that Sorsby’s parents contacted him after online criticism, saying, “We didn’t expect all of this. Are y’all OK? We don’t want this on your university.” McGuire told them, “Let’s take a deep breath. Let’s all work through this together. We have your son’s best interest at heart.”

President Schovanec described Sorsby’s actions as a mistake but said Texas Tech remains committed to supporting him. “Mistakes have consequences,” Schovanec said. “At the same time, here’s a young man with a dream and a vision to pursue a career. We felt not to have the opportunity to pursue that career, given the circumstances and the evolving changes in this world that these athletes face, was unfair and unjust.”

The video closed as a unified message to the Texas Tech community, reaffirming leadership’s stance in support of both Sorsby’s recovery and the institution’s athletic integrity.

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