The NCAA has officially cleared the University of Cincinnati of any wrongdoing in the investigation surrounding former quarterback Brendan Sorsby. This decision comes after a thorough inquiry into Sorsby's prohibited betting activities during his time as a student-athlete.
Sorsby, who played for the Bearcats during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, transferred to Texas Tech following his time in Cincinnati. In April, he was ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA after it was revealed that he had placed thousands of dollars in impermissible sports bets over a four-year period while attending both Indiana and Cincinnati.
In a statement, Zach Stipe, Cincinnati's senior associate athletic director for communications, confirmed that the NCAA enforcement staff had completed their inquiry into Sorsby. He noted that the investigation found Sorsby had committed a Level III violation, but no wrongdoing was attributed to the University of Cincinnati or its coaching staff. "Cincinnati worked closely with the NCAA throughout the process, which began when the initial reports of impermissible sports wagering began," Stipe said.
The inquiry was initiated after Sorsby’s agent, Ron Slavin, made comments during a radio interview in Dallas suggesting that the university was aware of Sorsby’s gambling activities. The NCAA subsequently sent an official letter of inquiry to the university in early July.
It is important to note that NCAA Level III violations are considered less severe and are attributed solely to the individual involved—in this case, Sorsby. The violation stemmed from an incident where the ProhiBet app on Sorsby's phone flagged an attempt to place a bet, which he was ultimately denied access to.
During his college career, Sorsby was found to have made bets totaling at least $90,000. While he placed at least 40 bets on games during his freshman year at Indiana in 2022, he did not bet on games in which he participated. However, he did acknowledge placing at least 165 impermissible bets on various college and professional sports in 2024, including three wagers on Cincinnati men's basketball games through a FanDuel account he shared with a friend. Between December 2023 and June 2025, he provided over $60,000 to this friend to deposit into their shared betting account.
In his final season with the Bearcats, Sorsby showcased his talents by passing for 2,800 yards, achieving 27 touchdowns, and throwing just five interceptions. Additionally, he rushed for 580 yards and scored nine touchdowns. Despite a strong start to the season with a 7-1 record, Cincinnati ended the year on a disappointing note, losing their last five games.
Following his transfer to Texas Tech, Cincinnati has also filed a pending federal lawsuit against Sorsby, alleging that he breached his name, image, and likeness contract.
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