NCAA files accelerated appeal after Texas judge blocks gambling ban for Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby

The NCAA has filed an accelerated appeal after a Texas district judge granted Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby a temporary injunction against the association’s lifetime gambling ban, according to The Hill. The filing, submitted late Monday, is intended to seek quicker appellate review of the Monday ruling that temporarily prevented NCAA enforcement against Sorsby during the court fight.

The dispute centers on the NCAA’s determination that Sorsby violated the association’s betting policy for student athletes. In the underlying case, a Texas judge issued a preliminary injunction after finding Sorsby would face “probable, imminent and irreparable injury” if the injunction was not issued, allowing him to participate in football activities with Texas Tech while the case proceeds, The Athletic reported.

Court filings and reporting cited by The Athletic describe the factual basis for the NCAA’s action. Sorsby, who had previously played at Indiana before transferring to Cincinnati and then Texas Tech, admitted to placing more than 9,000 bets totaling more than $90,000, including at least 40 bets of $850 or more on Indiana football while he was at Indiana in 2022. The reporting also said Sorsby entered an in-person treatment facility for gambling addiction in April.

The injunction decision also addressed specific conditions the court ordered as part of the temporary relief. The Athletic’s reporting described that, beyond a two-game suspension included among the judge’s preconditions, the court set multiple requirements tied to Sorsby’s eligibility while the NCAA challenge is pending.

With the NCAA appeal now filed in an effort to overturn the injunction’s practical effect during the litigation, the process shifts to the Texas appellate courts. The Athletic reported that the case is proceeding through Texas appellate jurisdiction, with the Lubbock County District Court feeding into the Texas Seventh Court of Appeals in Amarillo, where multiple justices will review the matter.

The NCAA’s move comes as questions about the scope of NCAA betting enforcement move from internal discipline to judicial limits on how quickly the association can impose eligibility consequences. While the appeal does not necessarily resolve the merits immediately, the accelerated schedule described by The Hill indicates the NCAA is seeking faster appellate consideration of whether the injunction should remain in place as the legal challenge continues.

If the appellate court narrows or reverses the injunction, Sorsby’s status could change accordingly for future Texas Tech activities. If the injunction remains, the NCAA would continue to face a temporary limitation on enforcing its betting ban against him while the underlying case progresses, subject to any modifications ordered by the courts.