Is Brendan Sorsby done at Texas Tech? NCAA rules on gambling penalties

"Due to confidentiality rules put in place by NCAA member schools, the NCAA will not comment on current, pending or potential investigations," the NCAA said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. "However, the NCAA takes sports betting very seriously and is committed to the protection of student-athlete well-being and the integrity of competition. The Association works with integrity monitoring services, state regulators and other stakeholders to conduct appropriate due diligence whenever reports are received."

With Sorsby under NCAA investigation and stepping away from the Red Raiders, it raises the question of whether his time in Lubbock, Texas, is over before it began, considering the NCAA's typically stringent rules regarding sports betting.

Here's what to know:

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NCAA rules on sports betting

Here's a full look at the NCAA's rules and guidelines for betting-related violations from a June 2023 news release:

• Student-athletes who engage in activities to influence the outcomes of their own games or knowingly provide information to individuals involved in sports betting activities will potentially face permanent loss of collegiate eligibility in all sports. This would also apply to student-athletes who wager on their own games or on other sports at their own schools.

• If a student-athlete wagers on their own sport at another school, education on sports wagering rules and prevention will be required as a condition of reinstatement, and the loss of 50% of one season of eligibility will be considered.

• For all other wagering-related violations (e.g., wagering on professional sports), cumulative dollar value of the wagers will be taken into consideration with the following terms for reinstatement:

  • $200 or less: sports wagering rules and prevention education.
  • $201-$500: loss of 10% of a season of eligibility, plus rules and prevention education.
  • $501-$800: loss of 20% of a season of eligibility, plus rules and prevention education.
  • Greater than $800: loss of 30% of a season of eligibility, plus rules and prevention education.

As it stands, it is uncertain the exact number of bets Sorsby allegedly made or the final dollar amount. ESPN reports that Sorsby did make bets on Indiana games as a true freshman with the Hoosiers in 2022, occurring before the NCAA updated its guidelines regarding sports betting.

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In November 2023, the NCAA's Division I Council Coordination Committee modified its initial guidelines for student-athlete reinstatement cases in which student-athletes wager on other teams — excluding their own team — at their own schools. The modifications mentioned that the reinstatement guidelines will start with requiring one season of ineligibility and a loss of one year of eligibility.

The NCAA Division I Administrative Committee adopted a recommendation in October that would have allowed student-athletes and athletics department staff members to bet on professional sports. The adoption, which did not affect betting on college sports, was later rescinded a month later, meaning that NCAA athletes are still prohibited on betting on professional sports.

Is Brendan Sorsby eligible to return to Texas Tech?

It remains unclear whether Sorsby will be eligible to return this season for Texas Tech. The NCAA prohibits student-athletes and athletics department staff members from making bets and/or sharing information with bettors on college sports.

If Sorsby does return to football but is ruled ineligible to play for Texas Tech by the NCAA, he could elect to enter the NFL's supplemental draft.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Brendan Sorsby done at Texas Tech? NCAA gambling penalties, explained