The Brendon Sorsby Case and College Sports Betting Hypocrisy
On April 27th news came out that Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby was caught gambling on sports, including at least one game involving the Indiana Hoosiers in 2022 when he was a reserve QB and played in one game for the team. It has since been revealed that Sorsby has bet on college and pro sports thousands of times in the last few years, which goes against NCAA rules. Rather than denying the accusations, Sorsby fessed up and immediately said he would check himself into a residential treatment center for his gambling addiction. In the days since, however, there have been numerous revelations brought out by USA Today, the Atlantic and some other sites that Sorsby isn’t the only one who likely broke the rules.
Cincinnati’s Role in the Gambling Controversy
The first big revelation was that the Cincinnati Bearcats, with whom Sorsby signed a contract with and played for in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, knew about his gambling but did nothing about it. Matt Hayes of USA Today said the Bearcats athletic department were informed about Sorsby’s gambling prior to the 2025 but they did not act on the intel despite rules clearly saying the league needed to be informed and action taken. 
It’s clear that Cincinnati’s 2025 success wrested on Sorsby given his superb 2024 season that included almost 2,800 yards passing, a 64% completion rate, and a 136 QB rating. So no doubt the team made a conscientious decision not to rock the boat and pretended they heard nothing. In 2025 his stats were even better and he was projected to be a true Heisman candidate in 2026 and a high NFL draft pick in 2027. But Sorsby decided to enter the transfer portal in December of 2025 and Cincinnati sued Sorsby in February of this year for $1 million alleging breach of contract. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, demands a $1M exit fee from an 18-month NIL revenue-sharing agreement with Sorsby since he will now be playing for another team.
It also came out that Sorsby received numerous offers for 2026 and chose the $5 million NIL deal he agreed to with Texas Tech. So not surprisingly, there is now speculation that Cincinnati may have been behind the leak to the Atlantic that Sorsby was betting on sports, plus there has also been accusations against the Bearcats that Sorsby was given money to play rather than an actual NIL deal which violates the rules of the league.
While the full depth of Sorsby's betting has not been revealed, Sorsby seems to admit he placed microbets on Cincinnati Reds games, including whether the next pitch would be a ball or strike, whether the player would get on base, etc., and while the amounts are small it raises into question why Sorsby was betting on games in Cincinnati while playing for a team in thecity.
NCAA Gambling Rules Explained
What College Athletes Are Allowed to Bet On
It should be noted that the NCAA lifted the complete gambling ban on sports by student athletes in 2023, allowing athletes to bet on sports that the league has no affiliation with whatsoever such as UFC, NASCAR, horse racing and cricket. 
And in November 2025 they lifted the ban on athletes and team executives from betting on professional sports too. But it was made clear that players couldn’t bet on anything they had inside information for and they were still barred from betting on college sports. Ironically, the reasoning given by Dr. Deena Casiero, the NCAA chief medical officer for allowing players to now bet on professional sports as stated in a press release was:
"This harm-reduction approach gives schools an opportunity to help student-athletes make informed decisions, prevent risky behavior, and seek support without fear of impacting their eligibility."
So effectively she’s using the same reasoning that some countries have used for decriminalizing hard drug use, i.e. if we let them shoot heroin in a supervised facility they are less likely to die than if they use it on the street. Whether that’s true is beyond this article
Many analysts said at the time this new rule was announced by the NCAA purely out of greed and a way to save face. One lawyer I spoke to said that he has no doubt the league knew players were betting on pro sports and just wanted to make sure players stayed the full 4 years before jumping to the pros. Plus they wanted an out for star players if they wee indeed caught betting on the Super Bowl. This was an opportunity to look like they were doing something for the student athletes to allow them to make a bit of money on the side.
But betting on college sports is a no-go, although the penalties are confusing and seem to resemble a progressive tax program more than a system designed to deter violations. The rules were written in 2023 and included betting on pro sports as well, but as mentioned that restriction was lifted 6 months ago.
NCAA Penalties for Gambling Violations
The first and undisputed rule is that if a player bets on their own games or relays inside information to help bettors win wagers they will lose their remaining college eligibility. No one disagrees with that rule.
After that it gets . . . complicated.
If a student-athlete wagers on their own sport at a different school they will need to take classes on why what they did was wrong (called rules and prevention classes) and the student athlete could lose up to 50% of one season of eligibility.
How Gambling Penalties Escalate Based on Bet Size
How players are reprimanded for betting on other college sports depends on how much they bet. In each case the student athletes have to take classes on rules and prevention which I’m sure they diligently would pay attention to.
- If they wagered $200 they would need to take the classes only.
- If they wagered $201-$500: they face a potential loss of 10% of one season of eligibility.
- If they wagered $501-$800: they face a potential loss of 20% of a season of eligibility.
- If they wagered more than $800: they face a loss of 30% of one season of eligibility.
These of course are guidelines only, so with the right legal representation and possibly some begging and contrition the percentages could be reduced or eliminated - depending on how important the player is to the league.
As it stands, it is uncertain the exact number of bets Sorsby has made on college or pro sports (or the final dollar amount), but it’s safe to say it was well over $800. However, if it proves to be true that he bet on the Hoosiers in 2022 when he was playing for them (even though he only played in one game), then by the rules set out he should be ineligible to play in 2026. Pete Rose is still not in the Baseball Hall of Fame for doing the same thing. It will be interesting to see how the NCAA and Texas Tech try to handle the situation.
For his part Sorsby posted a tweet on X apologizing for his gambling and announcing his decision to seek treatment.
— Brendan Sorsby (@josh_carson_11) April 27, 2026
I was curious what exactly is involved in rehab for a gambling addiction, so I looked at the places that offer that type of treatment where I live and this is what I found on a website from a local facility that outlines the program.
Brief Overview of Inpatient Gambling Addiction Treatment
Assessment
The process begins with a thorough assessment to understand the individual's specific needs and the severity of their addiction. This includes a psychological evaluation, a physical health check, and an assessment of the individual's social and environmental factors.
Detoxification
While gambling addiction doesn't involve physical substances, there can be psychological withdrawal symptoms when a person stops gambling. These can include anxiety, restlessness, and irritability. In some cases, medication may be used to help manage these symptoms.
Therapy
The core of inpatient treatment is therapy, which can take many forms. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is often used, which helps individuals identify and change unhealthy thought patterns that lead to compulsive gambling. Group therapy and family therapy may also be included.
Education
Patients learn about the nature of addiction, the risks of gambling, and strategies for managing urges to gamble. This education component is crucial for helping individuals understand their addiction and prevent relapse.
Aftercare planning
Before leaving the facility, patients work with their treatment team to develop a plan for maintaining their recovery. This might include ongoing therapy, attendance at support group meetings, and strategies for managing stress and avoiding triggers.
The length of inpatient gambling addiction treatment can vary depending on the individual’s needs. A typical stay might range from 30 to 90 days, but some people may require longer treatment. It’s important to note that recovery from gambling addiction is a long-term process that continues well beyond the initial period of inpatient treatment.
According to various sources I’ve consulted the average success rate for complete abstinence from gambling for at least two years after attending rehab is approximately 67%, although for college students it’s about 50%. Mind you the average college student isn’t about to make $4 million for playing ball in 2026 and substantially more as a professional, so Sorsby may be higher or lower than the average.
Should the NCAA Suspend Brendon Sorsby?
So that brings me back to the big question of whether the league should ban Sorsby from playing for one year or whether they should show some clemency. Undoubtedly his is one of top athletes in the league but he did break the rules including the big one – betting on his own team. But is the NCAA really going to suspend a star player for making one bet on a team as a reserve player four years ago and thousands of other bets on pro sports, which is now ok, following a rule change last November? And if they do decide to ban Sorsby, will the Cincinnati Bearcats be held responsible for doing nothing about it when they knew? Had they intervened early on he would still have at least one full year of eligibility. Moreover, had this been Joe Blowski, defensive tackle for Appalachian State, who had 2 tackles in his career, it would be a much easier decision. Clearly, the NCAA is a business so they have to protect their interests too.
It seems that if all players were informed this was their opportunity to come clean without facing major repercussions, more of them might follow Sorsby’s lead. By admitting to gambling, entering residential treatment, and accepting probation - with any future violation ending their college careers - players with guilty consciences could get the help they need without destroying their futures.
The NCAA Could Turn This Into a Gambling Education Opportunity
The NCAA has made it clear they are all about education and impacting society, so maybe the league can turn this debacle into an opportunity and, like a gun buy-back program, allow those who made mistakes to do the right thing. 
It seems if they informed all the players that this is their chance to come clean and not face repercussions should they follow Sorsby’s lead and admit to gambling, get residential treatment, and be on probation with one slip up ending their college careers, that players with a guilty conscience can get the help they need and not ruin their future. Sorsby can also help out by being the point person in videos to student athletes talking about the dangers of gambling on their own sport, and possibly even a spokesman for the league. If the NCAA feels the need to penalize Sorsby then they can start with a fine equal to a percentage of the NIL endorsement deal, which may be a good thing for Sorsby as well since it won’t give him as much money to gamble and possibly relapse.
What the Sorsby Scandal Means for the Future of College Sports Betting
This is indeed a troubling situation, but a bigger athletes than Sorsby have been able to change their direction after seeking treatment, so it’s probably not in the anyone’s interest to ruin the life of a 22 year for some bad decisions, especially considering how interconnected all the sports leagues are with gambling. It would not only be uncompassionate, but also somewhat hypocritical.
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