Lubbock judge files to recuse in Brendan Sorsby lawsuit

A Lubbock district judge is recusing from Brendan Sorsby's lawsuit in which Sorsby is seeking eligibility for the 2026 Texas Tech football season . District Judge Phillip Hays , a Texas Tech University and Law School alumnus, filed an order recusing himself from the lawsuit the Red Raiders' quarterback filed seeking an injunction that would allow Sorsby to play this coming season. Sorsby, who is currently ineligible to play for Tech after violations of the NCAA's sports gambling rules, filed a 514-page suit on Monday, May 18, that was assigned to the 99th District Court over which Hays presides.

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Hays' recusal means Judge Anna Estevez will have to appoint a judge to hear the case. Estevez presides over the 9th Administrative Judicial Region, which includes Lubbock. After Sorsby's legal team filed its case for an injunction on Monday, Texas Tech Athletics released a statement saying, "After finalizing an agreed-upon stipulation of facts between Texas Tech University, the NCAA, and Brendan Sorsby, the University has declared Sorsby ineligible for competition.

Texas Tech intends to quickly initiate the reinstatement process. " A statement Tech released on April 27 said Sorsby acknowledged having a gambling addiction. He voluntarily entered a 30-day inpatient treatment program that day.