Scarbinsky: Texas Tech can support Brendan Sorsby without playing him

You are either part of the solution or part of the problem. It is time for Texas Tech University, its athletic department, and its football program to stop being the latter regarding the saga of quarterback Brendan Sorsby.

The Conflict of Interest

Sorsby is at the center of a gambling controversy after admitting to wagering on sports over the last four years, including betting on his own team during his freshman season at Indiana. While the NCAA moved to keep him off the field, a district judge recently granted an injunction, ruling that barring the quarterback would cause him irreparable harm.

While Texas Tech has suggested Sorsby sit out the first two games, the school has stopped short of confirming he will be sidelined indefinitely. Instead, the Red Raiders appear to be clearing the path for a potential return in Game 3, which marks their Big 12 opener against Houston.

Rationalizing the Rules

Texas Tech Athletics Director Kirby Hocutt recently claimed that the situation is "hard" and "new," asserting there is no perfect answer. That sentiment misses the mark. The NCAA has long maintained a clear, non-negotiable stance on sports betting, a rule established to protect the integrity of collegiate competition. From the 2003 firing of Washington coach Rick Neuheisel to more recent penalties for Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon and the permanent bans handed to four Alabama State basketball players, the precedent for strict enforcement is well-documented.

The rules are not difficult to interpret. Supporting Sorsby as a person—by monitoring his recovery, maintaining his scholarship, and ensuring his financial stability through NIL—is an admirable pursuit. However, allowing him to take the field as the starting quarterback is a different matter entirely.

Integrity at Home

Putting Sorsby under the high-pressure spotlight of college football would only invite unnecessary scrutiny and potential disaster. With a 2025 NCAA study indicating that 16 percent of FBS players have faced threats from gamblers, the environment is already volatile. Subjecting a recovering addict to the public microscope of every interception or missed point spread is a reckless path forward.

While Hocutt argues that supporting an athlete in treatment and upholding the integrity of the sport do not have to be in conflict, the reality is that Texas Tech has a responsibility to follow the regulations of the association to which it belongs. Leadership must step up and do what is right before the situation spirals further. Ultimately, integrity begins at home.

Kevin Scarbinsky, a member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Hall of Fame, is a special contributor to 205focus.com. Follow him on X @kevinscarbinsky. Watch his Scarbo Knows podcast on YouTube.