NCAA Appeals Limited Injunction Allowing Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby to Play After Sitting Out Two Games

The NCAA filed an appeal late Monday challenging a ruling that granted Texas Tech University quarterback Brendan Sorsby a temporary injunction against the association's gambling ban. The appeal is accelerated in hopes of obtaining a ruling from a Texas court before the Red Raiders begin their season this fall.

Sorsby was banned from competition earlier this year after admitting to betting thousands of dollars on various football games, including contests involving Indiana University while he played there as a freshman.

Attorneys for Sorsby argued that keeping him off the field would harm his recovery process. They suggested he sit out the first two games of Texas Tech's season, a proposal Judge Ken Curry accepted when granting the injunction. The NCAA and its president Charlie Baker said the Monday ruling will have damaging, far-reaching and broadly destabilizing ramifications which undermines and corrupts the integrity of sports.

Sorsby's case is being widely seen as an inflection point for the NCAA, which for months has been urging Congress to pass legislation granting it antitrust protections. The association argues the protections would help it enforce rules on name, image and likeness deals, revenue sharing and the transfer portal.

Sorsby, one of the top players in this year's transfer portal, is set to make nearly $5 million in NIL endorsement money this fall.