(BCSNN) — The NCAA has officially cleared the University of Cincinnati of any wrongdoing in its handling of former quarterback Brendan Sorsby, closing an inquiry that had hovered over the program throughout the offseason. The decision ends months of speculation about whether the Bearcats failed to act appropriately as Sorsby placed thousands of impermissible sports bets during his college career.
Sorsby, who played the 2024 and 2025 seasons at Cincinnati before transferring to Texas Tech, was ruled permanently ineligible in April after investigators determined he had wagered at least $90,000 over four years at Indiana and Cincinnati. The NCAA’s review found that Sorsby — not the university or its coaching staff — committed a Level III violation, the lowest tier of infractions and one considered isolated in nature.
“Earlier this summer, NCAA enforcement staff completed an inquiry into a former Cincinnati student-athlete's prohibited betting activity during his time at the university,” Cincinnati senior associate athletic director for communications Zach Stipe said in a statement. “The inquiry is now closed and the student-athlete was found to have committed a Level III violation. Cincinnati worked closely with the NCAA throughout the process, which began when the initial reports of impermissible sports wagering began.”
The Cincinnati Enquirer first reported the university had been cleared.
The NCAA sent its letter of inquiry in early July, shortly after Sorsby’s agent, Ron Slavin, alleged during a Dallas radio interview that Cincinnati had been aware of Sorsby’s gambling. Investigators ultimately found no evidence supporting that claim. Instead, the violation stemmed from the ProhiBet app on Sorsby’s phone flagging an attempted wager — one he was denied access to — and from his own admitted betting history. Cincinnati’s compliance department had previously informed him of NCAA gambling restrictions.
Sorsby’s betting activity was extensive. He made at least 40 bets on Indiana football as a freshman in 2022 — none on games in which he played — and acknowledged placing 165 impermissible bets totaling at least $38,000 in 2024, including three wagers on Cincinnati men’s basketball through a FanDuel account shared with a friend. Between December 2023 and June 2025, he provided more than $60,000 to that friend to deposit into the shared account.
On the field, Sorsby was one of the Big 12’s most productive quarterbacks last season, throwing for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and five interceptions, while adding 580 rushing yards and nine scores. Cincinnati opened 7–1 before losing its final five games.
The university still has a pending federal lawsuit against Sorsby, accusing him of breaching his NIL contract after transferring to Texas Tech. Meanwhile, Sorsby briefly regained eligibility through a Texas court injunction, but withdrew his suit once the Big 12 sought federal action to sanction both him and Texas Tech. He then declared for the NFL supplemental draft, which the league ultimately chose not to hold. Sorsby has since said he is preparing for the 2027 NFL Draft.
With the NCAA’s inquiry now closed, Cincinnati moves forward without penalty — and without lingering questions about its role in one of college football’s most high‑profile gambling cases.
