It feels like we get a new development in the Brendan Sorsby gambling story every day. 

Today is no different. USA Today reports that the FBI could launch an investigation into Sorsby because he bet on his own sport while at Indiana in 2022. According to USA Today sources, betting on your own sport can automatically trigger FBI involvement. 

That hasn’t happened yet. For now, the NCAA investigation is the immediate concern. And Sorsby has now found an impressive ally.

There are two important things to know about Sorsby’s new attorney.

Kessler was the co-lead plaintiff attorney in the House v. NCAA settlement, which paved the way for schools to directly pay student-athletes. He also represented Tom Brady in Deflategate.

That should tell you that Sorsby isn’t messing around here. Who better to fight the NCAA than one of the lead attorneys from the biggest landmark case ever against the NCAA?

It raises the obvious question: What is Kessler’s real motive here? Does he want to set another major precedent by beating the NCAA again? It would certainly be a nightmare scenario for the NCAA if it lost the ability to fully punish players for betting on sports.

It sounds like that’s not actually the goal, and that’s exactly why I now think there’s at least a chance Sorsby’s Texas Tech career isn’t over.

You know the NCAA can’t be fond of Kessler after the House case. Maybe it wants to avoid another fierce battle with him and would be willing to settle on something short of a permanent suspension.

I still wouldn’t predict it, but I’m at least open to the possibility now. Last week, I thought there was a 0% chance Sorsby would ever play in a Texas Tech uniform. Now I’d give it a 20% chance. 

Even if the NCAA did settle, he would still miss a good chunk of the season. And when he came back, it would take time to get up to speed. So the Red Raiders’ season has been significantly disrupted either way. 

What Did Cincinnati Know?

There are conflicting reports about whether or not Cincinnati was aware of Sorsby’s gambling issue before he played last season. 

We are basically locked in a he-said-she-said battle between Cincinnati and the national media. 

USA Today’s Matt Hayes initially reported that Cincinnati was alerted last August of Sorsby’s gambling before the 2025 season started. 

The Cincinnati athletic department was alerted in August that star quarterback Brendan Sorsby was gambling prior to the start of the 2025 season, two people with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports on Monday.

Then, Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger, as connected as anybody in college sports, cited several sources that believe the Bearcats were aware of Sorsby’s gambling during the season. 

Cincinnati insiders like Chad Brendel pushed back. 

The Athletic’s Justin Williams, who previously covered the Bearcats, reported something similar. 

Sources familiar with the program told The Athletic that Cincinnati would not knowingly play a student-athlete who violated any NCAA rules and was not aware of any illegal betting.

But even his story in The Athletic has now been updated to corroborate the USA Today report. 

Industry sources told The Athletic the Cincinnati athletic department was aware of Sorsby’s gambling in summer 2025, before the start of last football season, confirming aspects of a USA Today report.

In fairness, there is no report of an active investigation into Cincinnati yet, though Dellenger hinted that it could be coming.

It will all come down to whether there is any kind of paper trail proving the Bearcats were aware before the season. USA Today points out that all Big 12 schools use an app called ProhiBet, which notifies schools when student-athletes sign up for gambling apps or place illegal bets. That could hold the answers the NCAA might come looking for.

My fear for Cincinnati is simple: if it is true that they knew, the NCAA may come down hard because gambling is one of the few things it can still actually enforce.

It can’t control payments to athletes, restrict transfers, or do much else, thanks to a bevy of lawsuits over the last decade. But it still has gambling enforcement. I doubt the NCAA will go easy on anybody involved.

But maybe it’s all much ado about nothing. Cincinnati is confident enough to tell reporters there’s nothing to see here. For the Big 12’s sake, I hope the Bearcats are right. It would be a huge bummer to see the Sorsby story affect the seasons of two Big 12 programs.

What You Need to Know

• The latest update on Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond’s ACL recovery is very positive. 

• Iowa State lost a key piece of its 2026 football roster after a standout spring game. 

• One Big 12 school is way ahead of the rest of the league in men’s basketball ticket sales. 

• Another Big 12 school says it won’t take the $30 million loan from the Big 12’s new private capital deal.

• Brett Yormark continues to find creative ways to bring millions of dollars into the Big 12.

• Want your Big 12 news and analysis in podcast form? Listen to Open For Business at the gym, in your car, or first thing in the morning on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.

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