If Brendan Sorsby is going to be playing professional football anytime soon, it doesn't look like it'll be in the CFL.
In a reported memo from the league to 3DownNation, Sorsby has been barred from signing a contract with any of the nine CFL teams, and teams are also prohibited from claiming his exclusive rights.
"Upholding the integrity of the league and ensuring fair competition are paramount to the CFL," a CFL statement read.
The 22-year-old quarterback, after transferring from Cincinnati to Texas Tech earlier this year, was banned from competition by the NCAA for gambling activity.
After spending a month in a residential treatment program for a diagnosed addiction that led to thousands of bets, Sorsby sued the NCAA and gained a court-ordered reinstatement that prompted backlash toward Texas Tech. The controversy led Sorsby to enter the NFL's supplemental draft this year, but that league informed him that it would not hold one, leaving him to wait until 2027 to potentially begin his NFL career.
Sorsby had applied for the supplemental draft after a legal battle with the NCAA, which had declared him ineligible for making thousands of bets on sporting events worth at least $90,000 during his college career. Those included at least 40 bets on Indiana while he was a freshman there in 2022, though none on the games in which he played for the Hoosiers that season.
The NFL hasn’t held a supplemental draft since 2023 and had no plans to do so this year before Sorsby’s petition. No player has been selected in the supplemental draft since 2019.
While he waits for the 2027 NFL Draft, Sorsby can try to play professional football elsewhere — just not in the CFL.
Sorsby played four seasons in college, split between Indiana and Cincinnati. During his final season with the Bearcats in 2025, he threw for 2,800 yards with 27 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also added 580 yards on the ground, scoring nine times with his legs.
--with files from The Associated Press
Editor’s note
Gambling problems aren't only about losing money. They occur on a continuum, and can affect a person's whole life. To learn more about developing a healthy relationship to gambling, and to find resources for support, click here.
