NCAA Opens Inquiry Into Cincinnati Over Brendan Sorsby Gambling Case
The inquiry marks a new turn in the Brendan Sorsby saga. It shifts attention to whether Cincinnati knew about his gambling activity while he was with the program.
The NCAA has opened an inquiry into the University of Cincinnati regarding former quarterback Brendan Sorsby, marking a new phase in a gambling case that has already drawn in Texas Tech, the Big 12, the NFL and the courts.
Yahoo Sports first reported that the NCAA recently sent Cincinnati a letter of inquiry related to Sorsby’s time with the school. The outlet notes that such letters are not uncommon and do not indicate that formal allegations have been made. However, they generally mark the start of an investigation into possible rules violations.
The inquiry follows allegations by Sorsby’s agent, Ron Slavin, that Cincinnati officials were aware of his gambling activity. Cincinnati has repeatedly denied those claims.
The inquiry represents the latest twist in a case. Initially, it centered on Sorsby’s eligibility and later on whether he could continue his football career at either the collegiate or professional level after the NCAA permanently ruled him ineligible.
The latest developments now shift the focus to institutional oversight and whether university officials met their obligations once concerns about Sorsby’s gambling activity arose.
Sorsby Placed Tens of Thousands of Dollars in Impermissible Bets
Sorsby was permanently ruled ineligible after the NCAA determined he had placed impermissible sports wagers while competing as a college athlete.
The quarterback acknowledged wagering roughly $90,000 over four years as a college athlete. He also acknowledged making at least 165 bets totaling approximately $38,000 during 2024 while at Cincinnati. Those include three wagers on Cincinnati men’s basketball games through a shared betting account.
Case Expands Beyond Sorsby’s Eligibility
Last month, a Texas judge granted Sorsby a temporary injunction. The ruling would have allowed him to play at Texas Tech despite the NCAA’s ruling. However, the quarterback later chose to pursue the NFL supplemental draft and voluntarily dismissed his lawsuit against the NCAA.
The NFL ultimately declined to hold a supplemental draft, effectively ending Sorsby’s hopes of playing professionally during the 2026 season.
Separately, the Big 12 sued Texas Tech and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over the conference’s ability to enforce penalties against Sorsby. The conference has not dropped the lawsuit despite Sorsby voluntarily dismissing his case against the NCAA and forgoing his final season of college eligibility.
Additionally, Cincinnati is suing the quarterback for allegedly breaching an NIL agreement after transferring to Texas Tech.
The inquiry transforms one of college sports’ most prominent gambling cases from a player-eligibility dispute into a broader examination of institutional responsibility.
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