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Have we ever seen a football story as bizarre as whats happening with Brendan Sorsby? The polarizing quarterback has been one of the biggest question marks across both college football and the NFL throughout the last month.
For those unaware, Sorsby allegedly placed 3,000 bets totaling $90,000 while in college, including several bets on his team at the time, Indiana.
Sorsby was set to become Texas Techs new starting quarterback on a $5 million NIL deal after a successful season at Cincinnati.
After the news leaked of his gambling issues, Sorsbys eligibility status has been widely up in the air.
For months, he had been fighting with the NCAA to become eligible, citing the completion of a 35-day rehabilitation program.
Eventually, Sorsby found a judge willing to grant an injunction that would allow him to play the 2026 college football season minus a two-game suspension only further proving that college football really is up to a judge who will give you a chance.
While the Red Raiders were pleased with the result, the rest of the Big 12 wasnt.
Opposing teams were boycotting scheduling Texas Tech, which left the conference, and the college football powers that be, in a bit of a pickle.
Eventually, Sorsbys camp came up with a solution: leave college football altogether and enter the NFL Supplemental Draft.
It seemed like the perfect plan.
Sorsbys talent has never been a question.
Some scouts have even said he wouldve been the second-best quarterback behind Fernando Mendoza in this years draft.
The questions ultimately were a) Was anyone willing to take a chance on someone with gambling baggage and b) Would anyone surrender draft capital to take said chance? There are enough quarterback-hungry teams who wouldve likely said yes to this (looking at you, Atlanta).
But there was one man who wasnt going to stand for this: Roger Goodell.
Goodell and the NFL declined to hold a supplemental draft this year, defying Sorsbys aspirations of playing in the NFL until 2027.
Sorsby and his team are planning to appeal the ruling, and he may find another judge to say yes to him, but it was a telling stance against gambling in a world where you cant go five minutes without seeing a sportsbook advertisement.
(Psst DraftKings, want to sponsor Newtons Notebook? How about you, FanDuel?) With the supplemental draft option out of the window, whats next for Sorsby? I honestly couldnt tell you.
Theres always the chance that Sorsby could force his way back to college.
After all, Texas Tech has committed to paying him the full $5 million of his NIL agreement.
Doing so would likely restore the uproar that got us in this spot in the first place.
An intriguing scenario would be going to play in an alternative league like the Canadian Football League.
It was common in basketball during the pre-NIL days to see high-end prospects forego college and play professionally overseas in China, Europe or Australia.
Perhaps going to Canada could be the equivalent in this case.
Another wacky yet possible option would be for Sorsby to play in the United Football League in 2027 and then apply for the 2027 Supplemental Draft.
Its far-fetched, but entirely possible.
This whole case has been one of the most interesting stories in football.
Im not sure weve seen a story with this many twists and turns that's transcended both professional and college football.
As of this writing, its anyones guess where Sorsby will play next year, if at all.
Is this the sore end for Sorsby? Im not sure.
Yes, his stock has taken a hit with this.
But if we know anything about sports, its that enough talent can almost usurp anything.
Evan Newton is the managing editor of The Covington News.
He can be reached at [email protected].