Texas Tech AD defends school in Brendan Sorsby saga, addresses ‘integrity’ issues
The athletic director submitted a lengthy statement.
Olivia Bennett 
Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt is pushing back against the criticism surrounding the Texas Tech and Brendan Sorsby case. Following a flurry of national backlash, Hocutt issued a pointed statement addressing the integrity concerns raised by his peers across the college sports landscape.
Setting the Record Straight
Hocutt began by acknowledging the respect he holds for his colleagues, while simultaneously insisting that the narrative surrounding the university needed a reality check. The tension stems from a recent court ruling that has restored Brendan Sorsby’s NCAA eligibility for the 2026 season. A Texas district court judge issued a temporary injunction this week, halting the NCAA's attempt to ban the quarterback, who previously admitted to betting on his own team during his freshman year at Indiana.
A Program Under the Microscope
Despite the legal win, Hocutt emphasized that Texas Tech is not handing Sorsby a free pass. "Brendan Sorsby has not played a single down of football as a Red Raider," Hocutt stated, noting that the player will sit out the first two games of the 2026 season. The university plans to monitor the situation closely, relying on a strict clinical and compliance framework rather than "blind faith."
Addressing Integrity in College Sports
Hocutt clarified that Texas Tech was neither a plaintiff nor a financier in Sorsby’s lawsuit. "A young man in treatment for a clinically diagnosed addiction exercised his legal right to seek a remedy in court, and a judge agreed with him," Hocutt said. "Our role has been to support his recovery, not to engineer his eligibility."
As the debate over the NCAA's rules regarding sports betting continues to rattle the industry, Hocutt argued that the values of collegiate athletics are not mutually exclusive with supporting a student-athlete's recovery. "I’ve heard the word 'integrity' used a great deal in the last 48 hours," he noted. "The integrity of sport matters. So does the integrity of how we treat a 22-year-old who sought help, entered residential treatment, and is working every day toward recovery. Those two things don’t have to be in conflict."
