Texas attorney general threatens Big 12 if they punish Texas Tech

Just when you thought a day might pass without lawyers injecting themselves into college football, Texas attorney general Ken Paxton has swooped in to save the day.

On Thursday, Paxton -- who is in the process of running for Senate in the state of Texas -- sent a letter to the Big 12 board of directors warning them that any act to punish Texas Tech following Judge Ken Curry's granting of quarterback Brendan Sorsby's injunction would be "unlawful" and "constitute a breach of the Big 12's contractual obligations to Texas Tech."

The letter comes as the Big 12 board of directors -- consisting of the presidents of BYU, Kansas and Kansas State -- meet Thursday to discuss the situation. The conference held a call with league athletics directors earlier this week, and a call with the Big 12's presidents is set for Monday.

“We had a thoughtful and productive conversation with our athletics directors today as we continue to work through the broader implications of this situation," commissioner Brett Yormark said earlier this week. "Many of our athletics directors voiced their opinions. We will continue to have open and honest dialogue amongst the group and until there is something to report, these conversations will remain within the conference.”

Paxton's stance runs counter to the legal theory of prominent college sports attorney Tom Mars, who tweeted Thursday that, in his reading of the Big 12's bylaws, the conference has authority to sanction Texas Tech as it sees fit. 

We'll find out soon enough whether the Big 12's presidents agree, but the most over-arching question -- Whether one player is worth burning each and every bridge to and from Lubbock -- remains as pressing as ever.