Cincinnati files lawsuit against Brendan Sorsby seeking buyout payment after Texas Tech transfer

Cincinnati has filed a lawsuit against former quarterback Brendan Sorsby, according to documents obtained by On3’s Pete Nakos. The school is seeking a buyout payment after he transferred to Texas Tech and said Sorsby breached his contract with the university.

In the suit, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio Western Division, Cincinnati argued Sorsby inked a two-season NIL deal with the school on July 1, 2025. Five months later, on Dec. 1, Sorsby told UC of his plans to leave the school. He filed paperwork to enter the transfer portal Dec. 15 and officially entered Jan. 2 when the window opened. Three days later, on Jan. 5, Sorsby signed with Texas Tech.

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Cincinnati argued that per terms of the agreement, Sorsby was due to pay the university $1 million in liquidated damages within 30 days of his transfer. He had not paid that amount as of the time the suit was filed.

Per terms of Sorsby’s agreement with Cincinnati, according to the lawsuit, transferring “would constitute a breach of [Sorsby’s] obligations to the University” if he did so during the deal’s term. The agreement was due to expire Dec. 15, 2026, though the two sides had the opportunity to negotiate “exclusively and in good faith, prior to the end of the Term, to enter into a renewed agreement for the University to continue to license [Sorsby’s] NIL rights.”

In the suit, UC argued Sorsby is capable of paying the $1 million figure after signing his deal at Texas Tech. On3 previously reported the deal is worth around $5 million, making him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in college football this season.

In a statement to The Athletic, Cincinnati said Sorsby declared his intentions to play two seasons with the Bearcats upon his rev-share agreement. The school also said he agreed to pay, effectively, a buyout if he chose to leave during the term of the deal.

“Cincinnati athletics is proud to partner with its student-athletes and honors the contractual commitments it makes to them,” the statement read. “We expect student-athletes and their representatives to do the same. In his lucrative NIL agreement with Cincinnati athletics, Brendan Sorsby committed to stay and play for two seasons as a proud Bearcat representative. He also agreed that if he left the university before that time, he would pay the university a specific amount for the substantial harm that his breach would cause.

“Cincinnati athletics intends to enforce that contractual agreement. As stewards of the university’s resources, the athletics department has a duty to do so. We thank Brendan for his time at Cincinnati and wish him success in the future.”

Sorsby spent two years at Cincinnati after arriving from Indiana. Across 12 games this past season, he completed 61.6% of his passes for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns, to five interceptions, while rushing for nine touchdowns. That came after he threw for 2,813 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2024, along with nine rushing scores, in his first season with the program.

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