Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby Enters Gambling Treatment

Brendan Sorsby, a Texas Tech transfer quarterback, has taken an indefinite leave to enter residential treatment for gambling. The university said he will be away from the team while he receives care.

Early reports indicate Sorsby placed more than 10,000 mostly small bets beginning in his 2022 freshman year at Indiana. At times he reportedly wagered up to 20 times a day across multiple states using apps such as Hard Rock Bet, BetMGM, DraftKings, PrizePicks and bet365. Because he turned 22 on January 20, 2026, some wagers occurred while he was underage.

College athletes are prohibited from wagering on NCAA-sanctioned sports. Team officials have not confirmed the total amount Sorsby wagered or lost and have not released a timeline for his return or any potential disciplinary measures.

Dr. Jeffrey Derevensky, director of the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours at McGill University, noted that frequent, repetitive wagers and chasing losses are indicators of disordered gambling. He added that modern in-play betting formats allow dozens of wagers during a single event, which can increase harm.

Josh Ercole, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania, listed factors that can contribute to gambling disorder: amount wagered, frequency, financial impact, time spent, preoccupation, effects on others and occasional wins.

Data from the National Council on Problem Gambling show about 8 percent of U.S. adults reported at least one indicator of problematic gambling “many times,” roughly 20 million people. Industry figures indicate commercial wagering generated $78.7 billion in revenue and $18 billion in state taxes in 2025.

Clinicians say younger people face added risk because brain regions that regulate impulse control and decision-making mature later. Matt Missar, who treats young people affected by sports betting, observed that faster, more immersive betting and the ability to place many small in-play wagers can increase psychological pressure. Clinicians also point to dopamine and reward pathways as a mechanism that can reinforce gambling behavior and make habits hard to break.

Sorsby is in residential care and remains on indefinite leave. The university has not provided further details about his treatment schedule or any sport-related sanctions.