Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office has threatened the Big 12 Conference with legal action if they attempt to sanction Texas Tech University for playing quarterback Brendan Sorsby in the upcoming season. Sorsby, who has been diagnosed with a gambling disorder, had been banned by the NCAA from participating in football after it was discovered that he had placed at least $90,000 in sports bets while attending Texas Tech and playing football at two other universities.

Legal Battle

A state district judge in Lubbock has blocked the NCAA from prohibiting Sorsby from playing most of the upcoming season, stipulating that he must continue treatment for his gambling disorder and sit out the first two games of the season. The NCAA is appealing the decision. Texas Tech’s athletic director, Kirby Hocutt, has defended Sorsby’s eligibility, stating that the university’s role has been to support his recovery, not to engineer his eligibility.

Paxton’s office has warned the Big 12 that any effort to “disadvantage” Texas Tech would be illegal, with potential exposure of over $200 million. The university’s board of regents chair, Cody Campbell, has also stated that there would be a legal fight if teams or conferences boycott Texas Tech, calling it an antitrust violation.

Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.