What to know about Brendan Sorsby’s situation and what’s next at Texas Tech

texas tech and cubby Brendan Sorsby Facing an uncertain future ahead of the 2026 season. Soursby, key, high-profile part of the Red Raiders transfer portal classLooking for treatment for gambling addiction, The school announced on Monday.

Texas Tech announced that Soursby would check himself into a residential treatment program after discovering thousands of online bets placed through a gambling app. The finding puts Sorsby’s eligibility in jeopardy.

According to sources, the NCAA is investigating Soursby’s gambling, as the organization prohibits athletes from betting on both college and pro sports, while the university said in a statement that it is “committed to supporting Brandon through his recovery process and ensuring his long-term health and well-being.”

After the Red Raiders won their first Big 12 title and made the College Football Playoff with transfer QB Behren Morton, Sorsby was ready to emerge as another playoff contender. Now he is in the air.

Here’s what you need to know about the condition:

What is the NCAA’s precedent in handling gambling-related issues involving players?

The NCAA has long prohibited student athletes from betting on college or professional sports, but facing an emerging gambling landscape in the US, it updated its penalties for violations in 2023. The NCAA has implemented those new policies. dozens of betting cases In recent years.

Depending on the violation, penalties can range from permanent loss of eligibility to counseling. Players who are found betting on their own games or on other teams at their school may face permanent disqualification. For example, in 2023, the NCAA ruled that iowa state Quarterback Hunter Deckers permanently ineligible after being found he bet on sports Including cyclones. — David Purdum

What were/are the public gambling laws in Indiana, Ohio and Texas when Sorsby lived there?

Indiana and Ohio had legal betting markets when Sorsby attended school in those states. The legal betting age in both states is 21. Sorsby does not turn 21 until January 2025, meaning he may have been underage when he allegedly placed bets in Indiana and Ohio.

Texas is one of 10 states that have not yet legalized sports betting. However, daily fantasy websites and prediction markets offer alternative opportunities to risk money on sports predictions. — Purdum

Who is Texas Tech’s man behind Sorsby?

When the backup quarterback Will Hammond Torn ACL during 42–0 win on 25 October oklahoma stateGoing to the portal to recruit the best available passer becomes the new plan for Tech in 2026.

Texas Tech won the battle LSU For Soursby the hope was that an All-Big 12 quarterback with first-round NFL Draft pick potential could lead the Red Raiders to a college football national championship.

Now they need Hammond to return from his right knee injury as soon as possible. Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire told reporters this spring that the best-case scenario for Hammond would be to return in time for Texas Tech’s Big 12 opener in Week 3. houston On 18th September.

“As far as when we get him back, game-wise we won’t let him go ahead of schedule, but he is ahead of schedule [in rehabilitation],” McGuire told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. “And I knew he would be. He is a different man. But when you count from the time of his surgery it’s still the third week at best.”

Texas Tech brings in third quarterback with starting experience this offseason tulsa transfer kirk francis. The junior started 12 games in his three seasons at Tulsa and threw for 3,045 yards with 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Tech also has two young backups, redshirt freshmen Lloyd Jones III and true freshman stephen cannonBut Francis primarily took second-team snaps in practice this spring.

Until suffering a knee injury, Hammond was clearly poised to succeed Behren Morton as Texas Tech’s No. 1 QB. He made several appearances during the 2025 season while Morton struggled with injuries and performed well in his limited opportunities.

In Texas Tech’s Big 12 opener on the road at No. 16 Utah, Hammond replaced an injured Morton and led the way to a 34–10 victory with 169 passing yards, 61 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 13 of 16 passing. Hammond also got the start for Morton on the road at Arizona State and produced 167 passing yards, 47 rushing yards, three TDs and one interception in a 26–22 loss. A week later he tore his ACL.

Hammond brings dual-threat ability to offensive coordinator Mac Leftwich’s scheme and averaged 7.9 yards per carry on his non-sack rushes last season, according to ESPN Research. He also finished with a better QBR (73.6) than Morton (66.2). McGuire and his coaching staff have full confidence in Hammond’s ability, but will be patient with his ongoing rehabilitation and recovery process after dealing with Morton’s injuries on a weekly basis last season.

“It’s crazy to say, but Will may set every record in the Texas Tech history books in his career,” McGuire told ESPN last season before the injury. — max olson

Could the Red Raiders sign another QB?

At this point in the year, with no spring transfer window, the Red Raiders have almost no options to upgrade their quarterback position should Soursby be declared ineligible.

The NCAA’s Division I cabinet adopted a new policy earlier this month to penalize programs that attempt to circumvent its transfer portal policies. miami And tulane Last year, transfers were added that never officially entered the portal.

Under the new rules, Texas Tech will be fined 20% of its football budget and McGuire will be suspended for 50% of the season if the program brings in a transfer who had not officially entered the portal in January.

There are only 15 scholarship QBs who remain unsigned through the January portal window. If Texas Tech needs another passer to replace Soursby, it will have to evaluate its junior college options or scour the Division II ranks.

A year ago, Texas Tech added an experienced passer with starting experience wake up forest transfer mitch griffis just to be safe. This proved to be a wise decision as Griffis played seven games off the bench. When Griffis transferred again to compete for the starting job East CarolinaTech made Francis its new number 3 option.

Texas Tech opens its season against FCS Abilene Christian, followed by a road game oregon stateA Big 12 home opener against Houston and then another non-conference home game against Sam Houston. If Sorsby is unable to return, Francis could become Texas Tech’s opening day starter. –Olson

What are Texas Tech’s Big 12 prospects without Sorsby?

There’s still a real argument for Texas Tech being the frontrunner in the Big 12 even without Sorsby, but the conference race feels more wide open going forward.

In fairness to the Red Raiders, they dealt with injuries at the quarterback position throughout the 2025 season and still went 12-1 with an average margin of victory of 30.6 points in their Big 12 wins. They can still build a high-scoring attack around an excellent trio of running backs cameron dickey, J’Coby Williams And quinton joyner. Red Raiders return one of the nation’s top tight ends terence carter jr. And three starters on the offensive line. Whoever plays QB for this team will score points.

Texas Tech has no equal in the Big 12 when it comes to financial investment in its roster, recruiting and transfers. The Red Raiders had a school-record nine NFL Draft picks traded over the weekend and replaced them with experienced and highly regarded transfers. The optimistic view would be that if this team can get nine or 10 good games out of Hammond, it should have everything it needs to continue competing for consecutive Big 12 titles and a College Football Playoff bid.

Still, there’s going to be plenty of competition in this year’s Big 12 race. BYU Will be back in the mix in 2025 after their 12-win season. Utah has a new head coach and must replace a lot of NFL talent from last year’s 11-win team. houston and Arizona Are ready to continue building off of a successful season and return their starting QB, and TCU There are expected to be contenders this year too. Oklahoma State has also completely revamped its roster entering Year 1 under new coach Eric Morris and should field one of the conference’s top offenses. — olson