Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby, No. 1 in The Athletic’s transfer quarterback rankings, has committed to Texas Tech.
The addition of Sorsby gives the Red Raiders a jumpstart to their 2026 transfer class as well as their hopes of repeating as Big 12 champions. It also fills a major need, as Texas Tech will lose incumbent starting quarterback Behren Morton to exhausted eligibility. Morton’s heir apparent, sophomore backup Will Hammond, suffered an ACL injury in October, creating more urgency for Tech to find a healthy transfer quarterback going into 2026.
— Brendan Sorsby (@Brendan_Sorsby2) January 5, 2026
Sorsby, a redshirt junior with one year of eligibility remaining, is expected to arrive with a hefty price tag. He is among a group of top transfer quarterbacks who industry sources believe can command offers upwards of $4 million annually to transfer. It’s unclear what Texas Tech offered Sorsby, but the Red Raiders have not been shy about bidding for transfers, illustrated by their 2025 transfer portal class, which cost more than $12 million across 21 players.
Sorsby is also mulling a possible jump to the pro ranks in what’s shaping up to be a thin quarterback class for the 2026 NFL Draft. According to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, Sorsby has remained open to the possibility of declaring for the draft if he got favorable feedback from NFL scouts. The deadline for underclassmen to declare for early entry to the draft is Jan. 14. Texas Tech has been evaluating other transfer quarterbacks and preparing to pivot in case Sorsby goes pro.
The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Sorsby has been a proficient dual-threat quarterback in two years as a starter at Cincinnati after transferring from Indiana ahead of the 2024 season. He averaged better than 2,800 yards passing and 500 rushing yards in his two seasons and, in 2025 tallied 27 passing touchdowns and nine rushing scores with only five interceptions, leading the Bearcats to a 7-5 record and the program’s first bowl appearance since 2022.
Sorsby is enticing to NFL and college scouts due to his size, arm strength and mobility. He accounted for 36 touchdowns in 2025 (third-most in the FBS) and averaged 9.8 air yards per attempt, both the most of any Power 4 starting quarterback who has entered the portal.
“He has everything you want in a quarterback,” said a Power 4 general manager who evaluated him. “He’ll be a first-round pick in the 2027 draft.”
Can the offense take the next step under Sorsby?
Texas Tech’s all-in 2025 offseason paid off in that the Red Raiders accomplished at least two of their primary goals: win the Big 12 and make the College Football Playoff. They had a national championship-caliber defense, but what held them back from advancing in the Playoff was a horrid offensive performance.
Morton had a brutal end to his Tech career in the loss to Oregon, completing just 18 of 32 passes for 137 yards and no touchdowns, and he turned the ball over three times. The hope for Texas Tech is that Sorsby can provide the type of performance that Morton could not, if the Red Raiders return to the CFP.
One thing Sorsby brings that wasn’t a major part of Morton’s game is running ability. Sorsby is a dual threat and rushed for 580 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025. Morton is more of a pocket passer. Adding Sorsby will allow offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich to install some quarterback run game, which could come in handy in situations like the one Tech faced against Oregon, when the Red Raiders struggled to move the chains.