As gambling allegations and legal injunctions spark conference-wide outrage, Brian Santiago addresses the Big 12’s united front against Texas Tech’s controversial quarterback ruling to protect collegiate integrity.
Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby being granted an injunction in his case against the NCAA and allowing him to play in the 2026 season has been the biggest story of college football's offseason. Make no mistake about it, this is a perfect example of how courtrooms are becoming battlegrounds to bend rules that have stood for decades.
While BYU doesn't have Texas Tech on the schedule during the regular season this year, the other schools who play the Red Raiders have joined forces to express how this ruling could force them to cancel games. What should be black and white has a lot of gray right now. If Sorsby is allowed to play this season after admitting to his gambling history, this would be a stain on the Big 12 and college football.
Nebraska and Georgia have already come out in opposition to allowing Sorsby to play, but also said they'll refuse to schedule Texas Tech in all sports until this is corrected.
The Big 12's athletic directors, presidents, and commissioners have reportedly met this week to discuss the issue. Several of them have already gone on the record and questioned why Sorsby should have the support of his own school. If the injunction does stand and will allow him to play another year, there's no coming back from what might happen with other cases in the future. A two-game suspension to start the season isn't enough for knowingly breaking the rules over a thousand times.
Think about the history here. USC great Reggie Bush got his Heisman Trophy taken away for receiving improper benefits. Former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended four games after buying a recruit a meal in 2021. Now, a player says he bet on games, some of which he was on the sideline for, and he's only going to miss two contests?
BYU athletic director Brian Santiago was asked about the Sorsby case this week during an interview with BYUtv Sports Nation. He brought it all into perspective.
"There's a lot swirling right now on this topic," Santiago said. "What I can tell you is that the commissioner of our conference, the board of our conference, which is the presidents, (and) the executive committee, have a great handle. Obviously, there are heightened emotions with this topic. There was a very healthy conversation we had yesterday; there was a lot of input. Out of respect for the conference, the commissioner has just asked us to take our feedback and take it to the board and let the board and commissioner handle it."
"We have total confidence. Brett Yormark is a passionate individual about protecting the integrity of the sport, and our board of presidents are some of the best in all the universities in the country. We have 100% alignment and confidence that [President Reese] will represent us and the Big 12 in a perfect way."
There's a perfectly clear message being put forward by Big 12 figureheads here. None of them want Sorsby to participate in this season at Texas Tech. BYU could make another Big 12 Championship game and face the Red Raiders for a second straight year. Being able to ignore the NCAA ruling taints competition and long-held standards. Nobody should be taking that lightly.
