Texas Tech Will Not Try to Recover NIL Money Paid to Brendan Sorsby

Texas Tech University will not seek reimbursement of NIL payments made to quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who left the program without playing a single game and is now pursuing eligibility for the NFL supplemental draft.

The decision closes the financial chapter between the two parties – at least on Texas Tech’s end – as Sorsby faces a June 22 deadline to secure his spot in the supplemental draft process.

The confirmation came through a lengthy statement from Cody Campbell, the billionaire chairman of the Board of Regents of the Texas Tech University System, published on Monday. Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec and Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt issued a separate, shorter statement confirming that Sorsby will not play for the program in 2026.

Why Texas Tech is Letting the Money Go

Campbell described Sorsby’s choice to drop his lawsuit against the NCAA and pursue the supplemental draft as “purely an output of practical analysis of the situation.”

His full rationale made the timeline the deciding factor: “Brendan and Texas Tech stand on very solid and legitimate legal ground, but he faced a June 22nd deadline to be eligible for the NFL’s supplemental draft, and there is no practical way to resolve all of the pending legal disputes and ensure his eligibility prior to this date. This is the only viable and fair path for Brendan and his future, as well as for his teammates, and our university.”

The NIL package Sorsby signed with Texas Tech was reported to be worth between $4 million and $6 million, making the decision not to pursue repayment a significant one.

What the Sorsby Situation Actually Cost

The larger damage extends well beyond what Texas Tech paid out. Sorsby never appeared in a game for the program, yet his presence triggered a state court fight over NCAA eligibility, a federal lawsuit from Cincinnati seeking $1 million in NIL exit fees, and a Big 12 lawsuit against Texas Tech over how the school used Texas courts to restore his eligibility. The conference reportedly had member programs considering refusing to play Texas Tech entirely over the ruling.

Campbell’s statement also used the moment to call for Congressional action on what he described as the “general chaos” in college football. NCAA President Charlie Baker had already characterized the Sorsby case as a potential “thunderbolt moment” for federal reform.

Sorsby now moves on to the NFL’s supplemental draft process, where the league must rule on his eligibility and determine whether a suspension tied to gambling violations will follow him out of college.