The University of Cincinnati filed a lawsuit against former quarterback Brendan Sorsby, seeking $1 million in damages after he transferred to Texas Tech, according to USA TODAY Sports.
The suit alleges Sorsby breached a two-year Name, Image and Likeness agreement he signed last July. The contract covered the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
Cincinnati claims the deal included a $1 million liquidated damages clause. This provision requires payment within 30 days if Sorsby left the program before the contract expired.
Sorsby entered the transfer portal in December 2025 and later committed to Texas Tech. Cincinnati says that move triggered the buyout provision. The school contends the quarterback has failed to satisfy the financial terms outlined in the agreement.
A representative for Sorsby called the lawsuit “misguided” and indicated the quarterback intends to fight the claims in court.
The legal dispute comes amid reports that Sorsby signed one of the most lucrative NIL deals of the 2025-26 transfer cycle.
Multiple reports have valued his Texas Tech agreement at approximately $5 million. Figures range from $4 million to $6 million. The deal is believed to be funded through the school’s revenue-sharing structure and donor support, including billionaire booster Cody Campbell.
Sorsby earned $875,800 during the 2025 season at Cincinnati under the school’s revenue-sharing model.
The case adds to the growing legal complexity surrounding multi-year NIL contracts and buyout provisions. Player movement and compensation continue to reshape college football’s financial landscape.
College Football Transfer News
The lawsuit represents one of the first major legal challenges involving NIL contract buyouts since the transfer portal became a permanent fixture in college football.
Cincinnati’s action signals schools are prepared to enforce financial penalties when players break multi-year agreements. The outcome could influence how future NIL contracts are structured across college football.
Sorsby’s situation highlights the tension between player mobility and institutional investment in talent retention. Schools are increasingly using guaranteed money and buyout clauses to protect their roster investments.
