Texas Tech tells QB Brendan Sorsby he won’t play in 2026 season

Texas Tech told quarterback Brendan Sorsby on June 15, 2026 that it would not permit him to play for the program during the 2026-27 season, according to federal court filings tied to his eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA. The filing said the school’s position applied “notwithstanding” a temporary injunction Sorsby had obtained. With no practical path to take the field, Sorsby moved to end the case and shifted his focus toward the NFL supplemental draft.

The development appeared in a two-page voluntary dismissal filed in federal court. In that filing, Sorsby’s attorneys said Texas Tech’s stance effectively made the temporary injunction’s relief moot because the school would not allow him to play even if the injunction remained in place.

The dismissal asked the court to close the case based on the change in circumstances described in the paperwork. The document did not provide additional detail about roster planning or football operations beyond the school’s reported refusal to play him.

Federal dismissal outlines why the injunction no longer helped

Sorsby had sued to preserve his playing eligibility, and the temporary injunction was intended to provide short-term protection while the underlying dispute proceeded. In the dismissal, his lawyers argued that Texas Tech’s position meant the injunction no longer offered meaningful relief because it did not compel the school to put him on the field.

The filing framed the decision as a practical issue: even with the injunction in place, the program would not allow him to participate in games during the 2026-27 season. As a result, the lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed rather than litigated further.

Big 12 lawsuit in Dallas adds another pressure point

The dismissal described the timing as significant because it coincided with separate legal action involving the Big 12. According to the filing, the Big 12 filed a federal lawsuit in Dallas on June 15 seeking authority to sanction Texas Tech if it played Sorsby in a game.

As characterized in the paperwork, the risk of conference discipline created a separate pressure point beyond the NCAA eligibility dispute. The filing suggested the possibility of Big 12 sanctions contributed to Texas Tech’s decision not to play him, even with an injunction related to NCAA eligibility.

Supplemental draft becomes the next option

With his path to playing at Texas Tech effectively closed, the filing said Sorsby “had to apply for the supplemental draft.” The NFL supplemental draft is typically used for players who become eligible outside the standard draft timeline for reasons that arise after the main draft process.

Next steps to watch include how the Big 12 case in Dallas proceeds and whether Sorsby formally enters the supplemental draft process in the coming weeks.