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Is Brendan Sorsby done at Texas Tech? NCAA rules on gambling penalties
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- Is Brendan Sorsby done at Texas Tech? NCAA rules on gambling penalties
Texas Tech football quarterback Brendan Sorsby has stepped away from the team for an undisclosed period of time.
The Red Raiders announced Sorsby is stepping away from the program on Monday, April 27, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal , part of the USA TODAY Network. The former Cincinnati and Indiana quarterback is checking into a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction .
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Sorsby reportedly placed "thousands" of online bets on a betting app, including ones made during his true freshman season at Indiana in 2022, a season in which he appeared in one game. He's under investigation by the NCAA, according to ESPN.
REQUIRED READING: Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby seeks treatment after placing 'thousands' of bets, NCAA investigating
" Texas Tech is committed to supporting Brendan through his recovery process and to ensure his long-term health and well-being," Texas Tech said in a statement.
Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech this offseason after two seasons at Cincinnati, where he was the Bearcats' starting quarterback and threw for a career-high 27 touchdowns this past season. He transferred to the Bearcats from Indiana after the 2023 season, where he played in seven games for the Hoosiers under then-Indiana coach Tom Allen.
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"Due to confidentiality rules put in place by NCAA member schools, the NCAA will not comment on current, pending or potential investigations," the NCAA said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. "However, the NCAA takes sports betting very seriously and is committed to the protection of student-athlete well-being and the integrity of competition. The Association works with integrity monitoring services, state regulators and other stakeholders to conduct appropriate due diligence whenever reports are received."
With Sorsby under NCAA investigation and stepping away from the Red Raiders, it raises the question of whether his time in Lubbock, Texas, is over before it began, considering the NCAA's typically stringent rules regarding sports betting.
Here's what to know:
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NCAA rules on sports betting
Here's a full look at the NCAA's rules and guidelines for betting-related violations from a June 2023 news release:
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Student-athletes who engage in activities to influence the outcomes of their own games or knowingly provide information to individuals involved in sports betting activities will potentially face permanent loss of collegiate eligibility in all sports. This would also apply to student-athletes who wager on their own games or on other sports at their own schools.
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If a student-athlete wagers on their own sport at another school, education on sports wagering rules and prevention will be required as a condition of reinstatement, and the loss of 50% of one season of eligibility will be considered.
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For all other wagering-related violations (e.g., wagering on professional sports), cumulative dollar value of the wagers will be taken into consideration with the following terms for reinstatement:
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$200 or less: sports wagering rules and prevention education.
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$201-$500: loss of 10% of a season of eligibility, plus rules and prevention education.
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$501-$800: loss of 20% of a season of eligibility, plus rules and prevention education.
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Greater than $800: loss of 30% of a season of eligibility, plus rules and prevention education.
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As it stands, it is uncertain the exact number of bets Sorsby allegedly made or the final dollar amount. ESPN reports that Sorsby did make bets on Indiana games as a true freshman with the Hoosiers in 2022, occurring before the NCAA updated its guidelines regarding sports betting.
REQUIRED READING: Brendan Sorsby was Texas Tech's missing piece. Gambling case puts its CFP hopes in limbo
In November 2023, the NCAA's Division I Council Coordination Committee modified its initial guidelines for student-athlete reinstatement cases in which student-athletes wager on other teams — excluding their own team — at their own schools. The modifications mentioned that the reinstatement guidelines will start with requiring one season of ineligibility and a loss of one year of eligibility.
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The NCAA Division I Administrative Committee adopted a recommendation in October that would have allowed student-athletes and athletics department staff members to bet on professional sports. The adoption, which did not affect betting on college sports, was later rescinded a month later , meaning that NCAA athletes are still prohibited on betting on professional sports.
Is Brendan Sorsby eligible to return to Texas Tech?
It remains unclear whether Sorsby will be eligible to return this season for Texas Tech. The NCAA prohibits student-athletes and athletics department staff members from making bets and/or sharing information with bettors on college sports.
If Sorsby does return to football but is ruled ineligible to play for Texas Tech by the NCAA, he could elect to enter the NFL's supplemental draft.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Brendan Sorsby done at Texas Tech? NCAA gambling penalties, explained
