The appeals court justices in the Brendan Sorsby case all went to Texas Tech law school

Key Points:

• The NCAA lost the initial ruling in the Brendan Sorsby case, but the appeal will be heard by the Seventh District Court of Appeals in Texas, where all four justices are Texas Tech Law graduates, potentially giving Sorsby and Texas Tech an advantage.
• There is a possibility that some justices may recuse themselves due to their ties to Texas Tech, but replacements would follow standard procedures; the case remains a Texas football dispute judged by Texas courts.
• Judge Ken Curry’s initial ruling granted preliminary relief to keep Sorsby eligible without detailed legal analysis or consideration of broader policy issues like gambling addiction, making the decision vulnerable on appeal.
• The NCAA could potentially benefit twice: the initial ruling may push Congress toward granting the NCAA an antitrust exemption, while an appellate reversal might bar Sorsby from playing for Texas Tech.
• Regardless of the appeal’s outcome, the case highlights ongoing antitrust issues in college sports and could serve as a catalyst for legislative reform to address player rights and NCAA regulations.