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After a judge granted a preliminary injunction that will allow Brendan Sorsby to play this upcoming season for Texas Tech, the NCAA has already filed a notice of appeal in the Seventh District of Texas, signaling that this game will only go into round three.
The ruling by Judge Ken Curry sent shock waves through college athletics, with several Big 12 athletic directors expressing frustration with the decision.
Brendan Sorsby wins NCAA ban despite betting on his own team multiple times
Conference officials are also expected to discuss potential next steps during meetings this week, starting on Tuesday.
But the college’s opinion is clearly in favor of NCAA compliance as they dig their heels in and push the Texas court system for a potential favorable ruling in their appeal.
BRENDAN SORSBY admits to betting nearly $90,000 during college career as NCAA CONTEST HEATS UP
Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby speaks to the media during Big 12 Media Days at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on July 8, 2025. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
For many, betting on your own team would seem like a clear path to losing eligibility.
But Sorsby’s lawyers built their case around his struggles with gambling and mental health, while also arguing that the NCAA breached its contractual obligations in the way it handled his suspension.
The strategy worked and the injunction was granted.
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Not only did Brendan Sorsby play on his own team, but he also bet on college basketball in both Indiana and Cincinnati, while betting over $6,000 on other college football games, placing over $90,000 in total bets.
“Did hoops betting play into the 2-game proposition?” a Power-4 sports executive asked Pakinomist Digital rhetorically.
And while the NCAA filed an appeal in the state of Texas on Monday night, we could already have a dilemma on our hands with the current judges presiding over the process.
Texas Tech alum could decide NCAA fate in Amarillo
Appeals can often take months to resolve, although there are circumstances in which the process can be expedited.
One aspect of the appeal that has already attracted attention is the composition of the Court of Appeal.
COLLEGE ATHLETICS INTEGRITY ‘FROM THE BUILDING’ AFTER REFEREE LET SORSBY PLAY DESPITE GAMBLING.
All four justices currently serving on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals attended Texas Tech. While there is no indication that their educational background would influence their decision-making, the optics are remarkable given the stakes involved.
Future Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby yells during the first half of the game between the Houston Cougars and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas, on Jan. 24, 2026. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
It remains to be seen whether NCAA attorneys will attempt to pursue any motions to dismiss related to those connections.
After all, a judge in the original ban case stepped aside because of ties to Texas Tech.
Whether that becomes a factor in the appeal is something both sides will be watching closely.
What happens to the Big 12? It will be a process
While there is clear frustration among some conference officials, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and league administrators are expected to proceed cautiously over the next few weeks.
TOP TEXAS TECH FOOTBALL DONOR SAYS NOBODY HAS THE ‘AUTHORITY’ TO ‘ENFORCE ANY RULES’ IN COLLEGE SPORTS RIGHT NOW
On Tuesday, athletic directors from the Big 12 will hold a conference call to discuss the Sorsby issues and what type of punishment options they have.
Because of the court order, neither the NCAA nor the conference can simply ignore the ruling and prevent Sorsby from participating in games or practices.
However, the Big 12 could investigate whether any conference-specific bylaws, sportsmanship regulations or ethics policies warrant separate disciplinary actions.
As we have seen in previous cases, conferences can use their own policies to issue a penalty against either a school or student-athlete.
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Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark gestures before the Big 12 Championship game between Texas Tech and BYU at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Dec. 6, 2025. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
This is where things get complicated.
Conferences have previously imposed sanctions independent of NCAA enforcement, but any attempt to sanction Sorsby could open the door to further litigation. And given the outcome of the initial case, there is no guarantee that a court will join the conference.
At the same time, Big 12 conference officials must weigh whether the refusal to act creates its own set of concerns, especially in the court of public opinion and the weight of other conferences.
So far, Sorsby has the full backing of Texas Tech, and any decision from the Big 12 likely won’t be made until after extensive legal review.
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So while a Texas judge may have handed down a ban on Monday, we still have a ways to go before he actually suits up for the Red Raiders.
This one is far from over as the countdown begins to the 2026 college football season.
