The NCAA has opened an inquiry into the University of Cincinnati concerning its former quarterback, Brendan Sorsby, and his alleged involvement in a sports betting scandal during his tenure with the program. According to reports, the NCAA sent a letter of inquiry to Cincinnati, a common step that can precede a formal investigation into potential NCAA rules violations.
University officials are expected to provide a response to the NCAA's requests. A spokesperson for Cincinnati stated that the university has been in continuous communication with the NCAA since initial reports of impermissible sports wagering emerged. The spokesperson added, "As we have stated before, we do not believe any athletics official or staff member was aware of any impermissible sports wagering."
The NCAA declined to comment on the matter, citing its policy against discussing ongoing investigations. The inquiry follows public suggestions from Sorsby's agent, Ron Slavin, that Cincinnati was aware of the quarterback's gambling activities while he was with the team.
Cincinnati filed a lawsuit against Sorsby in February, alleging a breach of his Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) contract when he reportedly failed to pay a $1 million exit fee after transferring to Texas Tech. The core of the potential NCAA scrutiny lies in whether Cincinnati knew, or should have known, that Sorsby had lost his eligibility by betting on Indiana football games while he was a player for the Hoosiers, yet allowed him to compete for two seasons.
Sorsby has acknowledged placing at least $90,000 in impermissible wagers across his four years of college football, spanning his time at both Indiana and Cincinnati. He was declared permanently ineligible by the NCAA in April, though he later obtained a court order that allowed him to play for the current season. This situation led to significant public backlash and a legal dispute involving Texas Tech and the Big 12 conference, ultimately resulting in Sorsby and the Red Raiders parting ways.
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire commented on the situation, noting the difficulty and the potential for "finger pointing" as the process unfolds. Sorsby subsequently dropped his lawsuit with the NCAA. He had intended to enter the 2026 NFL Supplemental Draft, but the league is not holding one this year. He was also barred from playing in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Sorsby is now eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft and has begun training in Dallas.