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Big 12 Lawsuit Against NCAA Persists as Sorsby Seeks NFL Draft Entry
The conference filed suit Monday seeking authority to penalize Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby under its bylaws. Sorsby has withdrawn his NCAA case and applied for the 2026 supplemental draft.
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The Big 12 has not moved to withdraw its federal lawsuit against the NCAA over Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, a conference source told ESPN on Friday. The league filed the suit Monday in the Northern District of Texas seeking declaratory judgment and injunctive relief that would let it apply its bylaws to punish Sorsby.
Sorsby admitted violating NCAA rules by placing thousands of bets, including 40 on Indiana football games while on that team's roster.
He has since dropped his own lawsuit against the NCAA and applied for the NFL supplemental draft. To qualify for that draft he must be ruled ineligible for college play by Monday. The NFL must still approve the application before any 2026 supplemental draft can occur later this summer.
The league has not held a supplemental draft since 2023, and no player has been chosen in one since the Arizona Cardinals selected safety Jalen Thompson in the fifth round in 2019. The last quarterback taken was Terrelle Pryor, selected by the Raiders in the third round in 2011. The Big 12 board of directors plans a call early next week to review options.
A conference source said presidents and chancellors have held off on any action while questions remain about Sorsby's NFL prospects and possible legal exposure. A Big 12 athletic director said the conference could still impose penalties on Texas Tech, including requiring the school to share legal fees incurred by the other 15 members.
