As outrage over Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility continues to snowball, criticism has poured in from even beyond the sports world. With Texas Tech facing intense scrutiny, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has now joined the growing chorus of dissent.

"Texas Tech's actions in obtaining eligibility for Brendan Sorsby -- an athlete the NCAA declared permanently ineligible for extensive wagering on college sports, including games involving his own team -- have constituted a shameful chapter in the story of college football,” Oklahoma AG Drummond wrote on X.

On Friday, the lawman recommended that the Big 12 Conference take action if Texas Tech does not do anything about the matter.

“If Texas Tech will not do the right thing, the Big 12 should,” he concluded.

Drummond’s recommendation came in a letter responding to warnings from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sorsby’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler.

Paxton and Kessler argued that any Big 12 sanctions against Texas Tech and Sorsby would be unlawful and most likely invite legal actions.

Big 12 officials convened this week and said they are looking for possible disciplinary measures involving Brendan Sorsby and Texas Tech.

"We are taking time with our legal counsel to understand the concerns of the state and will meet again with the full Board next week," Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said, responding to a letter from the Texas attorney general's office, as per The Athletic.

While the member presidents are set to meet this Monday, the conference members told The Athletic that no formal, imminent action has been planned yet.

Oklahoma AG Pushes Action Against Brendan Sorsby and Texas Tech

One question the college community might have is: Can the Big 12 conference take any action against Texas Tech? Well, under the provisions of Bylaw 3.6, the conference has the power to sanction a member institution.

But only if a “supermajority of disinterested directors” finds that the institution has “engaged in any action or a course of conduct materially adverse to the best interests” of the conference.

AG Drummond also referenced this in his letter, while challenging Texas AG Paxton's claim regarding "unlawful" sanctions.

“The claims asserted in the (Texas attorney general’s) letter are meritless. The idea that the Big 12 may not sanction the actions of one of its members under an agreed-upon preexisting contract is facially absurd,” Drummond wrote.

In his letter, the Oklahoma attorney general rejected the notion that sanctioning Texas Tech would violate antitrust laws.

“I also note that the injunction granted to Sorsby applies only to the NCAA. It does not impede the Big 12 from suspending Sorsby,” Drummond further added.

Even NCAA President Charlie Baker echoed similar sentiments. He called the judge’s decision to allow Sorsby to play this season a “new low” in the history of the sport.

As things stand, Monday's meeting could decide the fate of both the game and the conference.

Read more at the Michigan Football Community.

Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit