What's next for Brendan Sorsby? Options for Texas Tech QB include NFL lawsuit, JUCO football and more
What’s next for Brendan Sorsby? Options for Texas Tech QB include NFL lawsuit, JUCO football and more originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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What will Brendan Sorsby do now?
On Tuesday, the NFL denied Sorsby’s petition to enter the Supplemental Draft, which will not be held this year. The letter, obtained by ESPN.com, addressed Sorsby: “Your petition – filed three business days before the deadline, without any supporting information or documentation, and only after abandoning your recent litigation efforts to avoid NCAA sanctions — does not provide a basis for the league to alter those plans.”
On June 16, Texas Tech and Sorsby agreed to part ways after the quarterback announced plans to drop his lawsuit against the NCAA. Sorsby reportedly placed at least 40 bets on Indiana football when he was a freshman quarterback with the team.
So, as of now – Sorsby is not going to play in the NFL or the FBS in 2026. Where does that leave the quarterback as this saga continues? A look at all the possible options.
MORE: NFL denies Brendan Sorsby chance at supplemental draft
Brendan Sorsby sues NFL to play in 2026
More legal action could be next. Jeffrey Kessler, Sorsby’s attorney, told ESPN.com, “We will pursue this immediately with the NFLPA.”
The NFL ruling is a bit of a surprise – but not as surprising as the district court ruling in Lubbock County, Tex., that gave Sorsby an injunction against the NCAA to allow him to play at Texas Tech, where he transferred with a lucrative NIL deal after the 2025 season.
Sorsby would have to pursue litigation against the NFL, and this would be the most notable case since 2004, when Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett and USC receiver Mike Williams challenged the league’s draft eligibility rules.
Clarett won the case at the district court level, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated that ruling.
That came with consequences. Clarett never played in a regular-season game in the NFL. Williams sat out the entire 2004 season at USC but was still a first-round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2005.
Sorsby could win the case against the NFL, but this is a case that could be tied up in the courts long after the 2026 NFL season starts. Would that deter his chances to sign with an NFL franchise?
Brendan Sorsby returns to Texas Tech
According to The Athletic, “the plan was for Sorsby to remain enrolled at Texas Tech in case he was not approved for or selected in the supplemental draft.”
Now what? Sorsby was set to serve a two-game suspension to start the season, but the public reaction to that punishment after the Lubbock County, Tex., district court ruling was unfavorable, to say the least.
Perhaps Sorsby could work something out with Texas Tech, the Big 12 and NCAA that is similar to what Williams did in 2004 – though the USC receiver was not allowed to practice with the Trojans at the time.
Could Sorsby practice with Texas Tech but not be eligible to play for the 2026 season while continuing his treatment for a gambling addiction? A creative way of taking a medical redshirt, of sorts?
This scenario seems unlikely, however, given the PR hits the Red Raiders took in the aftermath of the district court ruling. Texas Tech leaders were outspoken in their support for Sorsby, however, and this would be an opportunity to back that up without the benefit of a reward of Sorsby playing on the field. That could be a small PR win for the program.
BENDER: Common sense finally prevailed with Brendan Sorsby case
Brendan Sorsby attempts to play JUCO
Sorsby could attempt to play junior college football for one season, but he would still have to be cleared by the National Junior College Athletic Association of the California College Athletic Association (3C2A) in order to play this season.
This would be a path similar to Cam Newton, who transferred from Florida at the end of the 2008 season when he faced punishment from the university. Newton played one junior college football season at Blinn College before transferring to Auburn, where he won the Heisman Trophy and led the Tigers to the national championship in 2010.
More recently, Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers – who also was suspended for gambling – sat out the 2023 season after his appeal to the NCAA was denied. He played one season of junior college football at Iowa Community Western College in 2024 and played for the New Orleans Saints practice squad last season.
Sorsby’s path would not have the same story-book finish because he would not return to the FBS, but this would be an opportunity to play football for one season without getting in a legal battle with the NFL. It’s football purgatory of sorts – but this might be a temporary solution if he is allowed to play at the junior college level.
Brendan Sorsby takes year off, preps for 2027 NFL Draft
This might end up being the end game. Sorsby could train for the NFL for a year – a path that did not hurt NFL stars such as Ja’Marr Chase and Micah Parsons – who opted out of the 2020 college football season because of COVID-19 concerns.
The difference? Chase and Parsons were guaranteed first-round picks. Sorsby will lose a year of game film, and the controversy surrounding his gambling issues will be revisited at the 2027 NFL Draft. Still, it’s a chance to work behind the scenes for a legitimate shot at the next level, and a year off would mean considerably less attention heading into that NFL Combine.
Brendan Sorsby tries the CFL
The CFL season started three weeks ago, which complicates Sorsby’s path to playing in that league. The CFL also could take a stance similar to the NFL where they make the quarterback wait a year before attempting to play in the league. This seems more like a last resort if Sorsby intends to play football this year.
Brendan Sorsby tries UFL or Arena Football
The UFL season concluded on June 13, meaning Sorsby would be unlikely to play in that league ahead of next season.
There are variations of Arena Football Leagues playing in the summer – but that often turns into an alternative career path for veteran QBs. For example, Malik Henry – who last played college football for Nevada in 2019 – leads Arena Football One in TD passes this season. This seems unlikely this season.
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