FRISCO, Texas — Big 12 Media Days kicked off Tuesday with a Q&A with Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark.
As expected, the Brendan Sorsby case was the first question asked by media members. However, Yormark did not address the topic in detail.
“Today is not the time to address that issue,” he said. “Today is about celebrating the upcoming football season and celebrating our 16 schools.”
Sorsby, the former Texas Tech quarterback, admitted to gambling not only as a college athlete, but on teams that he was a member of. Earlier this year, he admitted himself into a gambling addiction recovery center and immediately began the process of petitioning for his remaining year of eligibility from the NCAA. His pleas were denied and Sorsby lost eligibility to play for the Red Raiders this coming season.
Shortly after the denial, the 99th District Court in Lubbock County, Texas granted Sorsby eligibility for the upcoming football season, throwing the college football world into disarray.
One week later, the Big 12 filed a federal lawsuit against Texas Tech University. The lawsuit asked the federal court to allow the conference to enforce sanctions against the school if it allows Sorsby to play in the upcoming season.
Hours after the lawsuit was announced, Sorsby declared for the supplemental NFL draft, sparing both Texas Tech and the Big 12 from a messy legal battle.
But the punishment didn’t end for Sorsby. Shortly after he announced his intentions to go to the NFL, the league announced that it would no longer be holding a supplemental draft this year, keeping him from entering the NFL.
So, Sorsby pivoted and announced his intentions to go to the CFL. However, the CFL barred him from joining the league.
With no eligibility remaining, Sorsby will have to wait until the 2027 NFL Draft if he hopes to play pro football.