The judge in the Brendan Sorsby case has recused himself given his ties to Texas Tech, according to Bloomberg Law.
Judge Phillip Hays said he won’t preside over the case in a one-page recusal order that didn’t give a reason Wednesday. However, it was becoming well known and reported that Hays holds two degrees from Texas Tech and grew up nearby.
Hays’ replacement will be picked by the presiding judge in the administrative judicial region that includes Lubbock, Texas, since that is where Sorsby sued the NCAA this week. Ana Estevez, the presiding judge, holds no degrees from Texas Tech.
Sorsby is suing the NCAA is to try and expedite the process and get a final decision from the organization on his eligibility. Sorsby has been on indefinite leave from Texas Tech football due to a gambling allegations. Texas Tech is expected to rule Sorsby ineligible and file for reinstatement with the NCAA for the 2026 season.
Sorsby is requesting that a judge grant an injunction so he can play the 2026 season. The filing states Sorsby suffers from a “clinically diagnosed” gambling disorder, which is “a mental health condition.”
Sorsby’s Biggest Hurdle
Sorsby’s biggest problem is tied to his bets on Indiana football games when he was on the roster, despite not playing. NCAA guidelines from 2023 on sports betting say: “Student-athletes who engage in activities to influence the outcomes of their own games or knowingly provide information to individuals involved in sports betting activities will potentially face permanent loss of collegiate eligibility in all sports. This would also apply to student-athletes who wager on their own games or on other sports at their own schools.”
Those bets put his eligibility for the upcoming 2026 season in the most jeopardy. But on top of that, Sorsby reportedly placed bets across multiple states, using a range of gambling apps, including Hard Rock Bet, BetMGM, DraftKings, PrizePicks, and several others.
