Judge's Brendan Sorsby Ruling Is 'Disastrous' For Future of College Football

A Texas judge ruled in favor of Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby on Monday, declaring him eligible for the 2026 season.

Sorsby, who placed dozens of bets while playing college football - including games involving his own team - will be suspended for the first two games of the 2026 season, before being made eligible. Sorsby, who is set to make more than $5 million at Texas Tech this season, checked into gambling rehab in mid-April. He did a month-long stint in rehab and has since been diagnosed with a gambling and anxiety disorder.

Typically, gambling on your own sport is something that gets you banned for life (see: Pete Rose). However, college football is apparently now a sport where it's allowed.

“This court finds that applicant has demonstrated that he will suffer a probable, imminent, and irreparable injury if this court does not issue this temporary injunction because he will be unable to participate as a member of Texas Tech University’s 2026 football team,” the injunction states.

It's safe to say that this is a truly shocking - and perhaps extremely consequential - ruling for the future of college football.

You should not be allowed to gamble on your own sport - especially your own team - and get away with it.

Judge's ruling is truly disastrous and hard to believe

ESPN's Kevin Clark declared it "disastrous."

"As disastrous a ruling as there has ever been in modern sports. The pathway is now clear: gamble as much as you like, including on your own team and hope you are--or get--good enough that you can lawyer up down the line. A much bigger disaster than anything with NIL or portal," he wrote on X.

Dave Briggs of the Toledo Blade agreed.

"Texas judge rules college football players can now bet on their own teams. Time to turn out the lights," he wrote on X.

College football has changed as we know it - for the worse, unfortunately.