Brendan Sorsby plans NFL supplemental bid as NCAA appeal proceeds

Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby plans to apply for the NFL supplemental draft while his court challenge over NCAA eligibility continues, according to court records cited in legal filings. The NFL has not scheduled a supplemental draft and declined to comment on his expected application. The case could determine whether Sorsby can regain eligibility to play college football in 2026.

Court documents say Sorsby admitted to sports betting and placed more than 9,000 wagers totaling at least $90,000 over three years while enrolled at Indiana, Cincinnati and Texas Tech. The filings also say he placed at least 40 bets involving his own team.

The documents state the NCAA found no evidence that Sorsby manipulated his performance, used inside information to place wagers or shared privileged information with bettors. Sorsby was declared ineligible, which led to litigation in Texas.

A judge granted Sorsby temporary relief last week that could allow him to play for Texas Tech in 2026 after sitting out the first two games of the season, while requiring him to continue addiction treatment. The NCAA is challenging that order on appeal.

NCAA pushes for a decision before the Aug. 28 opener

On Monday, the NCAA asked an appeals court for an expedited resolution before the college season begins Aug. 28, according to filings in Lubbock County District Court. The association said it wants clarity on Sorsby’s status before Texas Tech opens its season.

In its filing, the NCAA argued the judge exceeded his authority by granting temporary relief. The timing of the appeal could shape how the injunction is applied and whether Sorsby can take the field in 2026 under the current ruling.

The legal dispute has drawn wider attention beyond the parties in court, with the source material citing outside reactions and related actions connected to the injunction.

How the NFL supplemental draft works

First held in 1977, the NFL supplemental draft is a summer mechanism that allows teams to bid future draft picks on players who did not enter the regular spring draft and whose college eligibility has been affected. The league typically holds the draft only when approved prospects are available, and it is not unusual for there to be no date set in a given year.

The last time a player was selected in the supplemental draft was in 2019. The league last held the supplemental draft in 2023, according to the case documents referenced in the filings.

For Sorsby, the next steps depend on whether the NFL schedules a supplemental draft and how quickly the NCAA appeal is resolved. Further court action in the coming weeks is expected to shape both his 2026 college path and any potential supplemental-draft route.