Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Jeffrey Kessler, Sorsby’s lawyer, each sent letters to the league Thursday warning that any sanctions imposed by the Big 12 against Texas Tech or Brendan Sorsby would be considered “unlawful” and would be met with legal action. James Gilbert / Getty Images
June 12, 2026 Updated 3:12 pm EDT
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond recommended to the Big 12 Conference on Friday that it take action against Texas Tech in the wake of a controversial court ruling restoring quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility after he admitted to gambling on his own team.
Drummond made his recommendation in a letter written in response to missives sent to the league Thursday by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Jeffrey Kessler, Sorsby’s lawyer, in which they each warned that any sanctions imposed by the Big 12 against Texas Tech or Sorsby would be considered “unlawful” and would be met with legal action.
“Oklahoma is home to a Big 12 member institution, Oklahoma State University, and my office has a direct interest in the integrity of Conference competition,” Drummond wrote. “Texas Tech has acted in a manner adverse to the Big 12 and integrity of college football as a whole.”
Sorsby was granted a temporary injunction by a Texas state court on Monday that reinstated his athletic eligibility for the 2026 college football season. The decision essentially overruled the NCAA, which had deemed Sorsby permanently ineligible for committing thousands of gambling violations, including betting on his own team while attending Indiana in 2022. Sorsby will serve a two-game suspension, according to the injunction ruling by Judge Ken Curry in the 99th District Court in Lubbock County, where Texas Tech is located.
Big 12 administrators met this week to discuss potential sanctions by the conference against Sorsby or Texas Tech, with all member presidents expected to meet on Monday of next week. Conference sources familiar with Big 12 discussions but unauthorized to speak publicly told The Athletic that no formal, imminent action has been planned and that officials are considering the legal ramifications of any decisions.
“We are taking time with our legal counsel to understand the concerns of the state and will meet again with the full Board next week,” Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement in response to receiving the letter from the Texas attorney general’s office.
This story will be updated.
Jun 12, 2026
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