The Big 12 just picked up a pretty notable ally in its legal battle against Texas Tech: Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. Kobach is pushing back hard against Texas AG Ken Paxton, making it clear that the Big 12 shouldn’t hesitate to discipline Texas Tech if it believes the Red Raiders violated conference rules in the ongoing Brendan Sorsby saga.
Let’s be honest: this thing was already spiraling into a full-blown legal circus. Now? It’s officially a multi-state showdown.
Paxton had previously warned the Big 12 that any attempt to sanction Texas Tech for playing Sorsby, who was previously ruled ineligible by the NCAA over gambling violations before a court stepped in, could trigger major legal consequences and potential antitrust issues.
Kobach isn’t buying it. Not even a little bit.
Kris Kobach’s Letter
In a letter to Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, Kobach flat-out rejected Paxton’s argument, calling it legally flawed and emphasizing that conferences absolutely have the authority to enforce their own rules.
And more importantly, he delivered a message that plenty around the league have been thinking: don’t let Texas bully the conference.
The Big 12 “should not be intimidated” by threats coming out of Austin, Kobach said, while offering Kansas’ support if things escalate further.
The Big 12 should not be intimidated by the Texas AG’s Office. The Kansas Attorney General’s Office stands ready to assist the Big 12. pic.twitter.com/L6WYHxwnKd
This isn’t just about one player or even one program anymore. This is about whether a conference can actually govern itself in the NIL/transfer portal/legal era where everyone seems ready to run to a courtroom at the first sign of adversity.
Kobach was careful not to say what should happen to Texas Tech. But he made it clear the conference not only can act — it may need to act to protect the league’s integrity.
What now for the Big 12?
The Big 12 is staring down a situation where one of its members plans to play a quarterback tied to a gambling scandal — one that included betting activity serious enough to trigger NCAA penalties — only to have a court temporarily override them.
Now the conference is left to decide: does it enforce its own standards, or does it let outside legal pressure dictate the rules?
Adding another wrinkle, this all comes as the Big 12 itself has already taken legal action, filing a federal lawsuit seeking clarity that it can enforce its bylaws and potentially sanction Texas Tech if it moves forward with Sorsby.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the conference dropped a hefty 47-page complaint Monday in federal court, targeting Texas Tech, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and several key university officials. The goal? Protect the league’s ability to police its own and hand down discipline if needed.
The Brendan Sorsby story just keeps getting wilder, and now the Big 12 is stepping squarely into the fight.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the conference dropped a hefty 47-page complaint Monday in federal court, targeting Texas Tech, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and several key university officials. The goal? Protect the league’s ability to police its own and hand down discipline if needed.
Filed in the Northern District of Texas, the Big 12 is asking for a declaratory judgment and a preliminary injunction that would clear the way for the conference to enforce its bylaws as Texas Tech pushes forward with plans to play Sorsby in 2026.
