Texas AG warns Big 12 of legal action over QB Sorsby eligibility ruling

Key facts

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened legal action against the Big 12 Conference.
• The threat is in response to potential sanctions against Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby.
• Sorsby was granted a court order to regain eligibility after an NCAA ban for gambling violations.
• Paxton stated that sanctions would violate federal and state antitrust laws.
• Some Big 12 schools reportedly considered refusing to play Texas Tech.
• The NCAA criticized the court's ruling and seeks legislative action.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is warning the Big 12 Conference that the state would consider suing any institution that sanctions Texas Tech over its decision to play quarterback Brendan Sorsby. Paxton, in a letter to Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark and Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod, stated that any sanctioning of Texas Tech would be a "per se violation of federal and state antitrust laws." This warning comes amid reports that some Big 12 schools are considering refusing to play Texas Tech if Sorsby competes. The Texas government argued in its letter that such a move would constitute a "breach of contract and tortious interference."

Sorsby, a highly-touted transfer portal player, was suspended by the NCAA for violating its policies related to gambling. He admitted to betting thousands of dollars on multiple sports, including college football games involving teams he was a member of early in his career. Sorsby recently completed a rehabilitation program for gambling addiction and sued the NCAA, asking a judge to reinstate him. His legal team argued that the ability to play football is essential to his recovery process. A judge ruled in favor of Sorsby earlier this week, who is slated to miss the first two games of the season as a condition of his reinstatement.

The NCAA criticized the ruling and has pointed to Sorsby's case as it urges Congress to pass legislation granting it antitrust exemptions to better enforce its rules on eligibility, name image and likeness, and revenue sharing.