LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton warned the Big 12 Conference on Thursday that the conference could face major legal liability if it moves to punish Texas Tech for continuing to support QB Brendan Sorsby amid his eligibility fight with the NCAA.<\/p>\n
Paxton\u2019s office sent a formal letter to Big 12 officials as conference leadership prepared to discuss possible action following a judge\u2019s ruling this week in Lubbock that temporarily blocked the NCAA\u2019s permanent ban on Sorsby.<\/p>\n
The Big 12\u2019s executive committee was scheduled to meet Thursday, with the full board of university presidents set to meet next week to consider whether sanctions are warranted.<\/p>\n
In the letter, Paxton said any Big 12 penalty tied to Texas Tech\u2019s compliance with the court order would be unlawful and could violate federal and state antitrust laws. <\/p>\n
\u201cAny sanction against Texas Tech for acting consistent with the Order would be a per se violation of federal and state antitrust laws \u2014 a naked horizontal agreement among competitors to disadvantage Texas Tech by cutting off access to the resources it needs to compete.\u201d<\/p>\n
He warned the conference and its member schools could be exposed to more than $200 million in potential damages, including lost football revenue, harm to donations and recruiting, and attorneys\u2019 fees.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe total exposure \u2014 for both the Big 12 and its members, joint and severally \u2014 will be substantially more than $200 million.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sorsby received a temporary injunction Monday that restored his eligibility while his legal challenge proceeds. He has acknowledged placing thousands of bets totaling more than $90,000 over four years from 2022-26, including dozens of wagers on Indiana football games in 2022 while he was a reserve player for the Hoosiers.<\/p>\n
Texas Tech has publicly backed Sorsby during the case and has provided institutional assistance, including support through the school\u2019s Center for Students in Addiction Recovery program.<\/p>\n
The conference\u2019s bylaws allow the Big 12\u2019s board of directors to sanction a member program if a supermajority of \u201cdisinterested\u201d presidents concludes the school engaged in conduct materially adverse to the league\u2019s interests. Potential penalties can include restrictions on postseason participation, television appearances, revenue distribution, recruiting or scholarships.<\/p>\n
\u201cTexas Tech is confident the Big 12 will choose to act within the confines of the law and respect both the judicial process and its own Rules and Bylaws.\u201d<\/p>\n
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