The Big 12 has not moved to withdraw its federal lawsuit tied to Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby's eligibility, with conference leaders still weighing legal exposure, possible costs and the NFL supplemental draft process, ESPN reported.
ESPN, citing a conference source, reported that the Big 12 presidents and chancellors are expected to discuss next steps on a board call early next week. The case remains active for now.
Big 12 Keeps Sorsby Case Active
The conference filed the lawsuit Monday in the Northern District of Texas, seeking declaratory judgment and injunctive relief that would let the league use its bylaws to potentially punish Sorsby, according to ESPN.
Sorsby has withdrawn his separate lawsuit against the NCAA and applied for the NFL supplemental draft. ESPN reported that he needed to be declared ineligible in college by Monday to become eligible for that draft route.
The important unresolved point is NFL approval. ESPN reported that the league still must approve Sorsby's application for there to be a 2026 supplemental draft, which would be held later this summer if it goes forward.
Texas Tech Cost Question Remains
A Big 12 athletic director told ESPN the conference could still consider consequences for Texas Tech. The issue, as framed in the report, is not only discipline but whether all 16 schools should share legal fees from a dispute they did not start.
The conference source said the league has not done anything different yet and will review its options next week. That keeps the situation in process rather than settled.
ESPN reported that Sorsby admitted breaking NCAA rules by betting thousands of times, including 40 times on Indiana football while he was on that roster. The article does not say the Big 12 has imposed a new penalty on Texas Tech or Sorsby.
Supplemental Draft Path Still Needs NFL Approval
The supplemental draft context explains why the lawsuit has not simply disappeared. ESPN noted that the NFL has not held a supplemental draft since 2023 and that no player has been selected in one since Arizona took safety Jalen Thompson with a fifth-round bid in 2019.
The last quarterback to enter the supplemental draft was Terrelle Pryor, who went to the Raiders with a third-round bid in 2011. Sorsby's case therefore sits at the intersection of college eligibility, conference bylaws and an NFL mechanism that is rarely used.
For now, the verified news is procedural but significant: the Big 12's case is still active, Texas Tech's potential responsibility remains under discussion and Sorsby's NFL route has not been approved.