Deion Sanders on gambling in college football: ‘Something’s wrong with that’

The landscape of college football is currently grappling with a high-profile controversy surrounding Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby. After undergoing treatment for a gambling addiction, Sorsby has been cleared to resume his playing career, a development that has triggered significant debate across the sport.

Deion Sanders Weighs In

While fans, media members, and administrators have been vocal about the situation, many coaches have opted to stay out of the fray. Colorado head coach Deion Sanders is a notable exception. In a recent conversation with the Associated Press, Sanders expressed clear frustration regarding Sorsby’s return, specifically highlighting the gravity of the player having previously wagered on his own team during his time with the Indiana Hoosiers in 2022.

"Somebody’s gambling on a sport they’re playing? You don’t think something’s wrong with that?" Sanders questioned. "Just say that to yourself: This guy on my team is gambling on the sport, in the competition, that we’re about to go out there and have. Something’s wrong with that."

The Scope of the Controversy

Sorsby’s gambling history spans his stints at Indiana, Cincinnati, and now Texas Tech, involving roughly $90,000 across thousands of individual bets. Following his treatment, a Lubbock County court issued an injunction that permitted his return to the field. While Texas Tech has issued a two-game suspension as part of disciplinary measures, the Big 12 is reportedly weighing further action against the institution.

The Changing Nature of College Sports

For Sanders, this incident is indicative of a broader shift in college athletics, where NIL deals and legal challenges have changed the fabric of the game. He suggests that the focus has shifted toward financial gain at the expense of the sport's integrity.

"The game is still the game," Sanders said. "The game is just positioned differently. Money’s involved, and any time money’s involved people tend to migrate to what they think they can get out of it, instead of what they could put into it -- and that’s unfortunate."