Story by
Texas Tech got its QB back. It may lose its opponents as schools talk boycott
- Story by
- Texas Tech got its QB back. It may lose its opponents as schools talk boycott
Texas Tech got good news Monday as a Lubbock County judge granted quarterback Brendan Sorsby an injunction , allowing him to be eligible for the 2026 season.
But at what cost?
Many in the college sports sphere expressed shock at the decision to allow eligibility to a player who committed sports' cardinal sin — betting on your own team — in addition to at least 8,000 more wagers .
Advertisement
Opinion: Brendan Sorsby court ruling a win for gambling addicts everywhere
NCAA said no to Brendan Sorsby : A court just said yes. Here's why
If a Texas court isn't going to hold Sorsby, and by proxy Texas Tech accountable, some college sports stakeholders will try.
Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks instructed his coaches to not schedule the Big 12 school.
"Based on recent developments, Georgia Athletics will not schedule future contests against Texas Tech until further notice," Brooks said in a memo to staff obtained Monday by the Athens Banner-Herald , part of the USA TODAY Network.
Georgia isn't the only school looking to ban competition against the Red Raiders . Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen told the Sports Business Journal he told his teams not to schedule Texas Tech in the future, either.
Advertisement
"There are a lot of lines that people argue have been crossed in college athletics. As money starts changing hands, there's arguments both ways. There is no argument here," Dannen told SBJ. "This is a line of integrity of the game and the permissibility of compromise of that integrity that has been crossed and is without precedent in major sports, professional or amateur in the United States."
ESPN's Pete Thamel reported Monday night that Big Ten officials "will meet to discuss a league-wide mandate to not play Texas Tech in any sports." Yahoo! Sports' Ross Dellenger reported Big 12 and SEC athletic directors were already having similar discussions.
"We've had some serious conversation about it," Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor told Yahoo "There is still a lot to be discussed. We aren't scheduled to play them this year, but it's something we have to look at from a college football perspective. This is greater than the Big 12."
The ruling by judge Ken Curry prevents the NCAA from enforcing its anti-gambling policy against Sorsby. Curry also added a two-game suspension for the quarterback as a condition of the injunction. Suspensions are not normally handed out by courts, but the NCAA itself or the offending conference or school.
Advertisement
Georgia coaches and staff were instructed to review their current and future schedules.
"If you have any contests currently scheduled against Texas Tech, or are actively engaged in scheduling discussions with Texas Tech, please notify your sports administrator as soon as possible so we can evaluate the situation and determine next steps," the memo said.
Brooks, as well as many other collegiate athletic directors and conference commissioners around the country, called the court decision devastating for the integrity of American sports as they're known.
"I think there needs to be serious conversations about not playing Texas Tech in any sports," Brooks, who is a member of the NCAA Football Oversight Committee, told Yahoo Sports. "This is not about Texas Tech. It's about protecting our own locker room. We cannot in good conscience put our student-athletes on a field where the competitive integrity of the contest is compromised and overridden by the courts. If a state court wants to dictate eligibility rules, they can play themselves.
Advertisement
"All FBS schools should only take the field against programs operating under a uniform, trustworthy standard of fairness. We've officially reached the point of no return."
Athens Banner-Herald reporter Marc Weiszer contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brendan Sorsby decision could lead to schools boycotting Texas Tech
