The Cincinnati Bearcats football program and former quarterback Brendan Sorsby are facing potential NCAA sanctions as a betting scandal continues to unfold, threatening to derail Sorsby's season with the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

The controversy stems from confirmed reports that Sorsby placed bets on games while playing for the Indiana Hoosiers early in his career—including wagers on IU games. While there is no concrete evidence that he bet on Bearcats games during his time in Cincinnati, the investigation remains ongoing.

USA Today's Blake Toppmeyer has weighed in, arguing that both Sorsby and the Bearcats should face consequences if anyone within the program knew about his activities. "If Cincinnati knew about Sorsby's activity and turned a blind eye to it, the institution should face penalty. So, too, should Sorsby," Toppmeyer wrote. "He's not the victim of this story... if Sorsby bet on sports, he broke the NCAA's rules, and no matter the temptation, nobody's more responsible for that rule-violating behavior than Sorsby himself."

The stakes are high, as previous NCAA cases against gambling offenders have been severe. College basketball players from programs like Arizona State, New Orleans, and Mississippi Valley State have all received bans for betting on games. Given that Sorsby bet on Indiana games specifically, his case could follow a similar path—even though Texas does not have legalized gambling.

Adding to the pressure, state gaming regulators in both Indiana and Ohio are investigating Sorsby, creating an ugly situation regardless of whether he bet on the Bearcats. For now, Texas Tech has placed Sorsby on an "indefinite leave of absence" rather than a formal suspension. The quarterback has retained attorney Jeffrey Kessler to fight the NCAA and restore his eligibility, especially after the Red Raiders reportedly paid a massive $6.5 million NIL package to land him from the transfer portal.