Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby will suit up for the Red Raiders in 2026 after a Texas court granted him an injunction against the NCAA on Monday.
The ruling opens the door for Sorsby’s return to Lubbock this fall. He’ll serve a two-game suspension as outlined in the court’s decision.
Just days ago, that seemed unlikely. Sorsby admitted to placing more than $90,000 in bets during his time at Indiana. Some of those wagers were placed on the Hoosiers themselves, which violates NCAA rules.
The case now heads to appeal, where it gets interesting.
The Judge Behind Monday’s Ruling
Ken Curry, a Fort Worth native, presided over Sorsby’s injunction hearing. The retired judge served on the 153rd District Court for 20 years before stepping down in 2012.
Curry’s been working as a visiting judge for Tarrant County since his retirement.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from UTSA in 1974. Two years later, he completed his J.D. at Houston and jumped into private practice. By 1979, he’d started his own law firm.
Anna Estevez, the presiding judge for the 9th Administrative Judicial Region, assigned Curry to the case. He took over after Judge Phillip Hays recused himself without giving a reason.
Hays attended Texas Tech for both undergraduate and law school.
No Texas Tech Connection
Curry has no reported ties to Texas Tech. His education came from UTSA and Houston.
That’s about to become relevant.
The NCAA Appeals
The NCAA filed an official appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Seventh District of Texas in Amarillo, according to The Athletic’s Justin Williams.
It’s labeled an “accelerated” appeal. The result will likely need to come before June 22, the deadline for players to apply for the supplemental draft.
Here’s where things get complicated for the NCAA.
Four Texas Tech Graduates Will Hear the Appeal
All four justices on the Seventh Court of Appeals are Texas Tech law school graduates.
Chief Justice Judy C. Parker was appointed to the court in 2026 after three decades across Texas’ judiciary. She served as Judge of Lubbock’s County Court at Law Number 3 and Associate Judge of Lubbock County.
Parker was President of the Texas Tech University School of Law American Inn of Court during law school.
Justice Laura A.W. Pratt joined the bench in March 2026 from private practice. She attended Arkansas for undergraduate before completing her J.D. magna cum laude at Texas Tech.
Justice Alex Yarbrough earned his bachelor’s degree at Angelo State before getting his J.D. at Texas Tech. He worked at several law firms before his appointment.
Justice Larry Doss has served on the Seventh District Court of Appeals since 2019. He received his J.D. from Texas Tech in 1999 and is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court and multiple U.S. Courts of Appeals.
All four justices on the Seventh Court of Appeals in Texas are Texas Tech graduates. pic.twitter.com/W6IrmKEhdO
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) June 8, 2026
The NCAA now faces an appeals court where every justice has direct ties to the school they’re fighting against.
Sorsby’s case hinges on this appeal. If it stands, he’ll miss just two games and be available for the majority of Texas Tech’s 2026 season.
