There’s a new hot seat in the Brendan Sorsby saga.

The NCAA sent the University of Cincinnati a letter of inquiry regarding the former quarterback’s two seasons with the Bearcats amid his sports betting scandal, according to Yahoo Sports.

While such letters are more routine rather than implicating, they often mark the start of an investigation into possible NCAA rules violations.

Brendan Sorsby during his time with Cincinnati. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

School officials are expected to respond soon with the information requested by the NCAA, according to the report.

“We have had continuous conversations with the NCAA since the initial reports related to impermissible sports wagering began,” a Cincinnati spokesperson told the outlet. “As we have stated before, we do not believe any athletics official or staff member was aware of any impermissible sports wagering.”

The NCAA declined to comment on the matter to Yahoo, citing its policy of not discussing ongoing investigations.

The inquiry comes after Sorsby’s agent, Ron Slavin, publicly suggested Cincinnati knew about the quarterback’s gambling activity during his time with the program. 

Cincinnati sued Sorsby in February, alleging he breached his NIL contract with the school when he declined to fork over a $1 million exit fee after he transferred to Texas Tech.

Head coach Scott Satterfield of the Cincinnati Bearcats speaks to the media during the Big 12 Media Days at The Ford Center at The Star on July 08, 2026 in Frisco, Texas. Getty Images

If the NCAA determines Cincinnati knew — or should have known — that Sorsby had lost his eligibility by betting on Indiana football while he was previously on the Hoosiers’ roster yet still allowed him to compete for two seasons, the school could face NCAA scrutiny.

Sorsby acknowledged wagering at least $90,000 in impermissible bets throughout his four years of college football between Cincinnati and Indiana.

He was permanently ruled ineligible by the NCAA in April before obtaining a court order allowing him to play this season. That ruling sparked an onslaught of public backlash followed by a legal battle involving Texas Tech and the Big 12, which ultimately led to the Red Raiders and Sorsby parting ways.

Brendan Sorsby attends an NCAA college basketball game between Texas Tech and Houston, Jan. 24, 2026. AP Photo/Annie Rice

“If there was a point we couldn’t play in the Big 12 championship game or the College Football Playoff, we couldn’t take that chance,” Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire told Yahoo Sports at the Big 12 Football Media Days in Frisco, Texas, on Tuesday.

Sorsby dropped his lawsuit with the NCAA and intended to enter the 2026 NFL Supplemental Draft, but the league is not hosting one this year. He was also barred from playing the CFL.

He was instead made eligible — and has begun training in Dallas — for the 2027 NFL Draft.  

As Texas Tech and the Big 12 pick up the pieces from their fallout, the Sorsby controversy remains unresolved. 

“I think it’s tough,” McGuire said. “I think there’s going to be a process. There’s a lot of finger pointing. It’s going to be something we’ll have to work through.”