The NCAA has cleared Cincinnati of wrongdoing in the Brendan Sorsby gambling inquiry, ending a cloud that had hovered over the Bearcats’ athletic department.
The case traces back to April, when Sorsby was checked into a rehab facility for a gambling addiction. At the same time, it emerged that he had bet on Indiana University football while at the school, along with Cincinnati basketball and Cincinnati Reds games. The NCAA responded by ruling Sorsby ineligible right away, but that changed after a Texas judge granted an injunction and made him eligible again.
That ruling set off a wave of backlash and legal fights, including action from the Big 12. Cincinnati then found itself pulled into the middle of the mess after Sorsby’s agent, Ron Slavin, accused the school of knowing about his gambling and covering it up. That accusation prompted the NCAA to open an inquiry into the university’s athletic department.
Cincinnati said all along that the Big 12 had flagged Sorsby for signing up for a PrizePicks account using Prohibet software and that the school had taken steps to educate him on the rules and regulations around college athletes and gambling. The NCAA’s inquiry ultimately backed up Cincinnati’s position and cleared the school of wrongdoing.
Sorsby spent two seasons at Cincinnati before entering the portal shortly after the 2025 season. He eventually committed to Texas Tech, though Texas Tech later decided to move on from him. He was also denied a supplemental draft opportunity and will now turn his attention to the 2027 NFL Draft.
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Bearcats Fans Will Notice A Different Nippert Experience Right Away
Bearcats fans heading back to Nippert Stadium in 2026 will see a few familiar spots with a different feel, starting with a new premium group hospitality space above the team tunnel. The University of Cincinnati Athletics also unveiled the HOP Shops Tunnel Club as part of a broader round of upgrades, a sign that the gameday experience is getting a fresh polish beyond the field itself.
Food and presentation are getting attention, too, with LaRosa's Family Pizzeria set as the official pizza of Cincinnati Athletics and available at concession stands beginning with the season opener. UC is also adding upgraded live production equipment to improve videoboard presentations and expand broadcast capabilities, and it will kick things off with a pancake breakfast before the opener against Boston College. [Read more 🡒]