The College of Cincinnati is suing Brendan Sorsby, accusing the previous Bearcats quarterback of breaching his title, picture and likeness contract following his switch to Texas Tech.

The college filed the lawsuit within the U.S. District Court docket for the Southern District of Ohio on Wednesday.

In response to the lawsuit, Sorsby signed an NIL settlement in July 2025 masking the 2025 and ’26 seasons and that there can be a $1 million buyout if Sorsby transferred, payable inside 30 days. Sorsby introduced on Dec. 15 that he was coming into the switch portal and introduced on Jan. 4 that he can be attending Texas Tech.

Sorsby obtained probably the most profitable deal of the portal interval — a reported $5 million — to return to his residence state for his remaining season.

“Cincinnati Athletics is proud to companion with its student-athletes and honors the contractual commitments it makes to them. We count on student-athletes and their representatives to do the identical,” the college stated in a press release. “In his profitable NIL settlement with Cincinnati Athletics, Brendan Sorsby dedicated to remain and play for 2 seasons as a proud Bearcat consultant. He additionally agreed that if he left the college earlier than that point, he would pay the college a certain quantity for the substantial hurt that his breach would trigger. Cincinnati Athletics intends to implement that contractual dedication.”

Sorsby’s agent, Ron Slavin, stated pursuing authorized motion in opposition to his consumer is misguided and that Sorsby intends to struggle the lawsuit and any ensuing damages.

Sorsby handed for two,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and 5 interceptions final season. He additionally ran for 580 yards and 9 TDs. The Bearcats began 7-1 earlier than shedding their remaining 5 video games.

Slavin stated Sorsby was paid $875,800 by Cincinnati beneath its revenue-sharing construction for the 2025 season.

“In that point, he generated thousands and thousands in worth for this system. Trying to get well these funds now sends the unsuitable message to present and future student-athletes and dangers damaging the long-term credibility of Cincinnati soccer,” Slavin wrote in an e-mail. “That is additional disappointing provided that Brendan parted methods with UC in what was a mutually agreeable method. The cash the college seeks to get well from him is nothing greater than an illegal penalty beneath Ohio legislation.”

That is no less than the third case this 12 months by which a college has sought a authorized treatment associated to an NIL cope with a quarterback.

Duke sued Darian Mensah had been engaged in a authorized struggle till reaching a settlement final month. Mensah signed a two-year contract in July 2025 earlier than he led the Blue Devils to their first outright Atlantic Coast Convention title since 1962. A decide granted Duke’s request for a brief restraining order to dam Mensah from doing something past coming into his title into the switch portal till each side got here to an settlement.

Mensah ended up transferring to Miami.

Demond Williams Jr. had deliberate to switch from Washington, then modified his thoughts two days later because the Huskies had been getting ready to file a lawsuit to implement a buyout of practically $4 million.

Sorsby started his profession at Indiana earlier than transferring to Cincinnati. In 35 profession video games, together with 31 begins, he has handed for 7,208 yards and 60 touchdowns, together with 1,295 speeding yards and 22 TDs.

Sorsby and the Purple Raiders, who received the Massive 12 final season and reached the School Soccer Playoff for the primary time in class historical past, will play at Cincinnati on Oct. 24 through the college’s a hundredth homecoming celebration.

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