Judge in Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby's lawsuit vs. NCAA recuses himself

Key Points:

• Judge Phillip Hays, a Texas Tech alumnus, recused himself from presiding over Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby's lawsuit against the NCAA, with a replacement judge to be appointed by an administrative judge without Texas Tech ties.
• Sorsby is suing the NCAA to expedite a ruling on his eligibility amid an indefinite leave from Texas Tech football due to a clinically diagnosed gambling disorder, seeking a court injunction to play in the 2026 season.
• The NCAA is investigating Sorsby's alleged gambling on Indiana football games in 2022, with additional probes by Indiana and Ohio state gaming commissions; bets may have been placed before Sorsby turned 21, potentially involving law enforcement.
• Sorsby has retained prominent antitrust lawyer Jeffrey Kessler, known for major legal victories against the NCAA, as the case questions NCAA eligibility rules related to sports betting violations.
• There is currently no evidence linking Sorsby's gambling to game outcome manipulation, and no timetable has been set for his treatment or return to Texas Tech football; NCAA rules warn of permanent eligibility loss for athletes influencing games or betting on their own teams.