IRVING, Texas — The Big 12 has withdrawn the federal lawsuit it filed against Texas Tech in June over the eligibility of quarterback Brendan Sorsby, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Monday. The conference filed a notice of voluntary dismissal with prejudice on Sept. 4, Front Office Sports reported.
“We are moving ahead together as a conference, 16 strong,” a Big 12 spokesperson told Front Office Sports on Monday.
Big 12 Lawsuit Against Texas Tech And Ken Paxton
On June 15, the case was filed in the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. The complaint named Texas Tech and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton as defendants, along with the school’s chancellor, president, and athletic director. The Big 12 sought a declaratory judgment and injunctive relief to establish its authority to enforce its bylaws and to sanction Texas Tech if Sorsby participated in play.
The complaint cited Bylaw 3.6, which permits the membership to impose sanctions on a school through a supermajority vote. One of the penalties the conference mentioned was barring Texas Tech from the Big 12 championship game, set to be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Days prior to the filing, Paxton’s office notified the Big 12 that sanctions against Texas Tech would breach state and federal antitrust laws and amount to breach of contract and tortious interference.
In April, the NCAA ruled Sorsby permanently ineligible after he acknowledged placing more than 9,000 wagers totaling at least $90,000 on professional and college sports over four years at Indiana, Cincinnati, and Texas Tech. Court records showed 40 of those bets were on Indiana games during his freshman season in 2022, and none on games he played in. The NCAA denied Texas Tech’s reinstatement appeal on June 5, and a Texas judge granted Sorsby a temporary injunction on June 8 that cleared him to play.
Sorsby withdrew his own suit against the NCAA on June 15, hours after the Big 12 filed, and declared for the NFL supplemental draft. Texas Tech Regent Chair Cody Campbell announced the quarterback’s departure that evening. The NFL declined to hold a supplemental draft, and Sorsby is preparing for the 2027 NFL draft.
He had transferred from Cincinnati in January on a $5 million name, image, and likeness deal and was the top-ranked player in the winter portal. In 2025, he was second-team All-Big 12 after passing for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions and rushing for 580 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Brendan Sorsby, The Dallas Cowboys, And Will Hammond
Sorsby grew up in Denton and started two seasons at Lake Dallas High School in Corinth, passing for 1,271 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushing for 791 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior in 2021.
Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said the fight cost his president, his athletic director, and the university’s board, and that he hated what Sorsby went through.
“He’s doing well training here in Dallas and we’re here for him,” McGuire said at Big 12 media days on July 7 at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco.
ESPN’s Todd Archer reported on July 24 that the Dallas Cowboys were highly interested in Sorsby ahead of the supplemental draft, citing multiple sources.
Will Hammond opened the season in Sorsby’s place. He completed 26-of-33 passes for 298 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception in a 33-10 win over Abilene Christian on Sept. 5, his first game since tearing the ACL in his right knee last October. Texas Tech named him the starter in late July.
Last season, Hammond appeared in 8 games with 2 starts, completing 69-of-109 passes for 680 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. He carried 43 times for 299 yards and 5 touchdowns.
The Big 12’s 16 members voted unanimously to adopt a bylaw requiring a member school to carry the legal costs if a similar situation comes up again, On3’s Pete Nakos reported. Texas Tech did not pay the conference’s legal fees, according to the same report.
The Red Raiders, ranked No. 12 in the AP Top 25, play at Oregon State on Saturday with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. CT on CBS. Their Big 12 opener against Houston is Friday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. CT on FOX at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock.
