This is obviously a college basketball newsletter and outlet, but we need to talk about something that happened in the football world that could have major implications across all of college athletics.
Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby had his eligibility reinstated yesterday after a Texas judge granted a temporary injunction against the NCAA. Sorsby was declared ineligible after the NCAA discovered he had wagered more than $90,000 on professional and college sports, including his own team, over the last four years.
The NCAA denied Sorsby's appeal on Friday, but his attorneys found a local judge who ruled in his favor. The NCAA immediately appealed the ruling, but a hearing may not take place until after the college football season ends. The timing of the hearing will likely pave the way for Sorsby to play after serving a two-game suspension at the start of the season.
In a statement, the NCAA said:
"The NCAA strongly disagrees with the court's ruling in Sorsby's case and is deeply concerned about the damaging, far-reaching and broadly destabilizing ramifications of this outcome – which undermines and corrupts the integrity of sports," the NCAA said in a statement. "The NCAA is committed to supporting student-athlete mental health but must continue to aggressively defend against actions that defraud college athletics and threaten competitive integrity, such as betting on one's own sport."
The news of Sorsby's reinstatement was met with backlash across the country.
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said:
"The ramifications of today’s ruling are significant and could have broad impacts across college athletics, creating great concern amongst our membership. I’ve been consulting with our key stakeholders and have scheduled meetings with our Conference ADs and Executive Board this week. We are also in touch with Charlie Baker and anticipate the NCAA to appeal the order in the next 24-48 hours. We will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation.”
The Big Ten is discussing a league-wide mandate to avoid playing Texas Tech in any sport, while other Big 12 schools are considering a similar measure. Officials at Georgia and Nebraska sent internal memos to athletic staff instructing them not to schedule Texas Tech and to cancel any matchups with the schools that are already on the books.
Sorsby's case is turning into a potential watershed moment for college athletics, as the NCAA continues to push Congress for an antitrust exemption that would allow it to enforce its rules. In the case of gambling specifically, the NCAA has made it clear, for several decades now, that student-athletes cannot bet on sports. Without any legislation to back it, the NCAA is powerless in the court system and whatever rulings may come from it.
This is a story worth monitoring as the week rolls on.
UConn head coach Dan Hurley is hiring Mike Pegues as an assistant coach and Justin McClelland as strength coach, according to a release.
Pegues spent the last four seasons at Butler under Thad Matta and the previous ten seasons at Xavier and Louisville with Chris Mack. McClelland spent the last three seasons at Villanova.
In other coaching news, Washington head coach Danny Sprinkle is hiring DeAndre Haynes as an assistant, per a report from Jon Rothstein. Haynes was most recently an assistant at Marquette.
Notable commitments: Lincoln Williams (2026) to Illinois | Pedro Pastre (Brazil) to Georgetown
New content at Basket Under Review
On a new episode of The Basket Under Review Podcast, Eamonn Brennan and Tate Frazier discuss Brendan Sorsby's case and run through roster updates in the Big East, Big Ten, and SEC.
Sam Federman spoke to Maxim Klitschko, son of legendary boxer Vitali Klitschko, about his family and his journey to East Carolina.
Upon Further Review
Brian Rauf
Eric Fawcett
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