Cincinnati is suing former quarterback Brendan Sorsby for breaking the 2-year contract he signed ahead of the 2025 season.
Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech in January, a deal that was common knowledge weeks before it went complete just after the new year, while being under contract with the Bearcats through Dec. 15, 2026. His deal called for a $1 million buyout should Sorsby transfer to another institution, and Sorsby's representatives told Cincinnati he does not intend to pay it.
So Cincinnati is suing. A complaint was filed in a U.S. District Court on Wednesday morning, according to The Athletic.
“Cincinnati athletics is proud to partner with its student-athletes and honors the contractual commitments it makes to them. We expect student-athletes and their representatives to do the same,” Cincinnati said in a statement. “In his lucrative NIL agreement with Cincinnati athletics, Brendan Sorsby committed to stay and play for two seasons as a proud Bearcat representative. He also agreed that if he left the university before that time, he would pay the university a specific amount for the substantial harm that his breach would cause. Cincinnati athletics intends to enforce that contractual commitment. As stewards of the university’s resources, the athletics department has a duty to do so. We thank Brendan for his time at Cincinnati and wish him success in the future.”
Texas Tech was aware of Sorsby's buyout and factored it into his rev-share allotment toward Sorsby; College Sports Commission guidelines mandate that the Red Raiders deduct the buyout from its $20.5 million cap for the 2025-26 fiscal year. (Of note: Texas attorney general Ken Paxton advised the state's schools to not sign the CSC participation agreement.)
Sorsby is expected to make $4 million in rev share and NIL in his one season as a Red Raider. He made a reported $1.5 million in 2025 at Cincinnati, “with the express expectation that it would realize the majority of the benefits during the following season, 2026, after Sorsby’s play developed and his brand grew," according to The Athletic.
Either way, Texas Tech does not owe Cincinnati any money, and the lawsuit will not keep Sorsby from playing for the Red Raiders this fall. Sorsby chose Texas Tech over a late pitch from LSU, who acquired Arizona State's Sam Leavitt instead.
In two seasons as Cincinnati's starting quarterback, Sorsby threw for 5,230 yards and 43 touchdowns while rushing for 1,022 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was Indiana's starting quarterback for the pre-Cignetti Hoosiers in 2023.
After losing Sorsby, Cincinnati acquired Georgia Southern quarterback JC French IV.
The defending Big 12 champion Red Raiders and their multi-millionaire quarterback visit Cincinnati on Oct. 24.