BYU football may have a wider title opening as the reigning Big 12 champions will be without their starting quarterback, Brendan Sorsby, as he takes a leave of absence to handle a gambling problem.
It doesn't get much worse than this for a prominent athlete, as Texas Tech's projected starting quarterback and Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby is no longer with the Red Raiders' program due to a gambling addiction. Sorsby has been checked into a residential rehabilitation facility after it was revealed that he violated NCAA policy with frequent gambling activity.
Breaking: Texas Tech transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby is checking into a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction, sources told @PeteThamel.
— ESPN (@espn) April 27, 2026
He’s under NCAA investigation in the wake of the discovery of Sorsby making thousands of bets via a gambling app. pic.twitter.com/ecRJZPHF0t
I want to preface the remainder of this article by setting the record straight. I have no intention of mocking or poking fun at a victim of addiction. With the increased legality and marketability of sports betting and other gambling alternatives, it's never been easier to place a quick bet and have your brain get hooked for life, constantly hunting another rush of adrenaline, always anxious for just one more hit.
Addiction is a serious issue, and I expect to only see more and more news breaking of athletes and prominent figures in the sporting world getting in too deep with gambling, and the inevitable questions of morality, ethics, and whether the actual product has been manipulated to appease the interest of sports books.
Sorsby has a severe problem, and he should be applauded for finding help.
All the same, investigations have revealed that Sorsby had gambled on Indiana University football games while he was a redshirt freshman with the program, though he always bet in favor of his team and never wagered on games in which he made an appearance.
According to ESPN sources, Sorsby bet on Indiana football while redshirting for IU as a true freshman in 2022, a season in which he played in a single game as a reserve. The bets in 2022, per sources, were on Indiana to win and none came in a game in which Sorsby appeared.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 27, 2026
His removal from the Texas Tech program is huge for BYU football's Big 12 championship implications, however, as the Red Raiders' massive NIL investment in the transfer quarterback has now gone to waste, and acquiring a new quarterback at this point would trigger severe penalties for the football program.
In Sorsby's place is Will Hammond, a very good quarterback who famously tore the Utes apart in Salt Lake City last season and is a member of the LDS faith. Hammond suffered a torn ACL last season, however, and may not be 100% if he returns in time for week one.
The favorite to win the Big 12 Championship this season and secure back-to-back titles, Texas Tech's armor now has some weak points, and BYU is ready to exploit them.
Where the Red Raiders now have uncertainty, the Cougars have consistency with returning quarterback Bear Bachmeier set to lead the offense. Though Tech promises to return as a defensive giant and still the top pick to run the table in Big 12 play, the Cougars were on the verge of greatness as they landed the first blow in Arlington last season, before a late-game collapse eventually doomed the team's championship hopes.
No, the Big 12 won't necessarily be more chaotic than usual, and no, there are never any guarantees at the highest levels of college football, but suddenly the champ is staggering. We'll see if BYU has what it takes to go for the throne.
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