Overview
- On Wednesday Judge Phillip J. Hays formally recused himself from Brendan Sorsby’s lawsuit seeking an injunction to restore his 2026 college eligibility.
- Sorsby had been ruled ineligible after reports that he placed bets on Indiana football games in 2022 while on the scout team and he transferred to Texas Tech during the offseason.
- An administrative judge will now appoint a replacement, a step that can slow the case and reduce the chance of an expedited decision that Sorsby needs before the supplemental-draft filing window.
- Court filings and reporting say Sorsby placed thousands of mostly small wagers over multiple years, has entered residential treatment for a gambling disorder, and has retained high‑profile attorney Jeffrey Kessler.
- The legal fight overlaps other disputes that could affect Sorsby’s future, including Cincinnati’s $1 million exit-fee lawsuit and reported NIL/rev-share commitments to Texas Tech that may be jeopardized if he cannot regain eligibility.