After being shut out of the NFL when the league chose to not hold a Supplemental Draft, controversial Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby has had another door shut on him toward his goal of playing pro football.
Sorsby openly admitted to betting thousands of times on pro and collegiate sports while he was a member of the Indiana University football team – including bets on his own team and his own teammates.
Despite a court’s decision allowing him to play for Texas Tech this season, Sorsby sought entrance to the NFL via the supplemental draft – but the league decided against holding such a draft this year.
Now, with limited options to play football between now and the 2027 NFL Draft, the Canadian Football League has banned him from joining any team in the upcoming season.
In a statement to USA Today, the CFL said, ‘Upholding the integrity of the league and ensuring fair competition are paramount to the CFL. The allegations involving Brendan Sorsby are serious and concerning.’
‘At this time, the CFL will not register a contract for him, and no team will be permitted to add him to its negotiation list.’
Former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby will not be allowed to play in the CFL
Sorsby was found to have placed thousands of bets on his own team while he was a backup at Indiana. The quarterback, who also played at Cincinnati, hoped to play in the NFL this season.
The NFL chose not to hold a supplemental draft, blocking Sorsby’s pathway to the league
Sorsby had not previously expressed his desire to play football in Canada, but his options are now much slimmer than they were before.
The only league that has publicly invited Sorsby to join their team is the UFL – with lead owner Mike Repole extending an offer on social media to join the Dallas Renegades.
‘The UFL is the league of opportunity,’ Repole posted to X on June 23. ‘We created our Regional Player Initiative to keep great players closer to home, closer to their fans, and on the field. Let’s do this!!!!!’
Repole closed the tweet by inviting Sorsby to ‘have your people call my people!’
Sorsby attended a rehabilitation center in Arizona where he stayed for 35 days before being diagnosed with gambling and anxiety disorders, according to his attorneys.
He is alleged to have placed thousands of individual bets across his college career – which also included a stop at the University of Cincinnati.
According to court documents, Sorsby placed at least 2,900 bets totaling over $30,000 between June 2022 and December 2023 while on the scout team at Indiana.
This included 40 games where he bet on the Hoosiers, but this did not involve any games where he featured or had a legitimate chance of playing, per the filing.
Only the UFL has extended an invitation to Sorsby to join one of their teams
In addition, the NCAA alleges that Sorsby placed parlay bets involving the Indiana basketball team – including wagers ‘in favor of players on the opposing team.’
Student-athletes are prohibited from betting on any NCAA-sanctioned sport – college or professional – and could face permanent loss of eligibility if they’re found to wager on games involving their own team or another team in a different sport at their same school.
The NCAA hasn’t found evidence to support the idea that Sorsby manipulated his performance, nor has there been any indication inside information was used to place these bets.
Last week, the NCAA commended Sorsby for seeking treatment, but maintained that he is free to continue his playing career elsewhere. The player’s attorneys are asking the NCAA to treat his gambling violations as a mental health condition.