The Brendan Sorsby gambling saga is far from over, and it might drag two Big 12 schools into the fallout.

Sorsby is receiving treatment for a gambling problem after On3 reported that he made more than 10,000 bets since 2022 across multiple gambling apps. One of those bets, reportedly made on his own Indiana team in 2022, could end his Texas Tech career before it even gets started.

But now there is fierce debate over what, exactly, Cincinnati knew before Sorsby played for the Bearcats each of the last two seasons.

Matt Hayes of USA Today reported that Cincinnati was alerted last August that Sorsby was gambling. Others, like Bearcat Journal’s Chad Brendel, say Cincinnati didn’t know about any gambling that specifically violated NCAA rules.

The distinction there is what Sorsby was actually gambling on. NCAA rules do allow student-athletes to bet on some pro sports, but not sports in which the NCAA sponsors a championship.

There are also plenty of fan accusations that it was the Bearcats who turned Sorsby in once he left for a conference rival and refused to pay a $1 million buyout that Cincinnati is now suing him for. 

It’s all getting pretty messy. 

I don’t know exactly what to believe, but Cincinnati should absolutely take the NCAA seriously here. Investigators are going to look into what the Bearcats knew and when they knew it. 

And I don’t think there will be much leniency for Sorsby or Cincinnati if both are deemed guilty. The NCAA is a hammer looking for a nail. It doesn’t have much left that it can actually police after losing a bevy of lawsuits over the last decade, but this is one area where it still has real power and influence.

My guess is it is going to fully flex that muscle. 

So, what will Texas Tech’s next move be?

Some have speculated that the Red Raiders could be the first to pursue a “ghost transfer.” There isn’t a spring transfer portal window anymore, and a ghost transfer refers to a player who transfers without ever actually entering the portal.

Right now, NCAA rules say any coach who adds a ghost transfer would be suspended for half of a season, and the program would be fined 20% of its football budget. 

But why not just challenge that in court? It’s worked for almost literally anybody else who has had an issue with an NCAA rule in the last decade. 

If there is any program in the country aggressive enough and rich enough to try it, Texas Tech would be it.

The problem is that you would need a quarterback talented enough to be a clear step up from Will Hammond, who is willing to risk the situation blowing up in his face. It would also create a huge distraction that would hang over the team. 

And if it doesn’t work out, what kind of message did you just send to the other quarterbacks on your roster?

I don’t think we’re actually going to see Tech try to pull that off. 

But Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger reports that Texas Tech might help Brendan Sorsby sue the NCAA if he is deemed permanently ineligible.

After the enforcement staff concludes its investigation, the NCAA is likely to recommend that Sorsby, having bet on his own team, be deemed ineligible. In normal protocol, the school — in this case, Texas Tech — would rule Sorsby ineligible for his final season of eligibility in 2026 (what was supposed to be his first in Lubbock).

The next step in the process is Texas Tech filing for reinstatement of Sorsby’s eligibility — or at least a portion of it. A denial of such from the NCAA is certain to spark a legal challenge from Sorsby in a case that may even be backed by Texas Tech.

I’m not sure if there’s any possible way a legal challenge could succeed in time to get Sorsby eligible before September, but crazier things have happened. Tech certainly has the money to fund an infinite amount of billable hours for the lawyers to make it happen. 

One thing is for sure: the fallout from all of this isn’t going to end anytime soon. 

Big 12 Private Capital Deal

Months after it was initially reported to be on the table, the Big 12 finalized its private capital deal. And while that is a jarring headline, it’s not as alarming as it might sound.

First of all, it’s private capital, not private equity. The Big 12 isn’t giving up any ownership stake or decision-making power. 

The league is getting money from RedBird and Weatherford Capital at a rate just below 10%. The Big 12 office will take $12.5 million and invest it into creating new revenue streams.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark also stresses that this is a strategic, long-term business partnership that can help with the Big 12’s next media rights deal and will generate $130 million in additional revenue over the next five years.

Schools have the opportunity to take up to $30 million, but reporting indicates only two to six teams are likely to do so. And while $30 million is nothing to scoff at, it’s also a far cry from the $500 million private equity deal Utah approved. 

BYU has already said no to the money. I’d imagine Utah and Kansas, which got a $300 million donation from David Booth last August, will also pass. Other Big 12 schools are exploring similar paths to the ones the Jayhawks and Utes have already taken.

So while nobody truly wants private equity and private capital in college sports, this isn’t as crazy an undertaking as it might sound like. 

Plus, it’s really just a necessary evil in today’s college sports landscape. You can take a financial risk now to keep up and compete at the highest level, or you can fall behind and risk losing your seat at the big boy table forever.

What You Need to Know

• Iowa State men’s basketball head coach TJ Otzelberger signed a 10-year extension that will pay him $6 million annually. His buyout to go to another college of NBA job is $4 million. 

• Baylor officially announced the return of Jerome Tang to its men’s basketball staff as associate head coach. 

• The Big 12 is reportedly on board with the College Sports Commission participation agreement, though the SEC and Big Ten aren’t yet. It’s a mess of a situation. 

• Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard had some strong words for any player who transfers from ISU. 

• K-State men’s basketball coach Casey Alexander gave some great updates on his new roster.

• 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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