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He Texas Tech Football The program is at the center of controversy after the Brendan Sorsby eligibility failure. Critics of that decision demand repercussions.
Some have asked College Football Playoffs intervention. In theory, there is a way to avoid the court ruling against the NCAA.
The CFP is not governed or sanctioned by the NCAA. It is the only championship with that distinction. It can work outside of certain restrictions.
Instead, the playoffs are run by CFP Administration, LLC. It has a selection committee and a board of directors of 11 people.
That board has the ability to play blackball at red raiders. Will it?
Media calls for college football playoff ban for Texas Tech.
Matt Hayes from USA today is the most notable of that group. He wrote a piece on Tuesday suggesting that the CFP should refuse to recognize games in which Brendan Sorsby play next year.
Sorsby, of course, is the projected starting quarterback for the Red Raiders. He signed with the school for more than $5 million in the offseason before entering a rehabilitation program for his gambling addiction.
Sorsby bet $90,000 in four college seasons. Their activity violated both state and NCAA law. It was also a question of integrity since he he bet on his own team. Even so, he was granted a temporary court order That allows him to play after a two-game suspension.
That decision took power away from the NCAA. He failed to remove Sorsby’s eligibility.
While the NCAA is now powerless, the College Football Playoff is not. This is what Hayes wrote in his recent article.
There is a possible solution to Sorsby’s ruling, even with the judge’s order that the NCAA cannot enforce its “Restitution Rule” for the 2026 college football season.
According to the ruling, the NCAA cannot proactively penalize member institutions before the case is resolved. But the NCAA will not penalize Texas Tech (in this scenario), but the CFP will.
Hayes points out that the Sorsby case was against the NCAA and did not involve Texas Tech. He also noted that if another lawsuit were filed over the playoff ban, it would involve the university and the CFP.
That separation would apparently protect the College Football Playoff from violating Sorsby’s court order.
Is there any way for Texas Tech to stop him?
The president of the Red Raiders is on the board.
Lawrence Schovanec is part of the 11-person team. That makes the situation even more complicated.
Members would have to devise a plan to veto Texas Tech and convince the majority to rule in favor of the decision, all with Schovanec in the room.
For obvious reasons, a unanimous vote is out of the question. Hayes insists that a majority vote is enough to advance the approval of government measures.
That said, conferences and administrators have already expressed their disdain for the situation. Some have gone as far as to remove Red Raiders from future schedules – in all sports.
It may not be difficult to find six board members in favor of banning Texas Tech from the College Football Playoff.
Schovanec can do everything in his power to lobby for his school and convince others to join his cause. You may not be able to block the movement completely.
If you are unable to do so in this proposed scenario, litigation will surely ensue.
Hayes says these discussions are already being held. It will be interesting to see if there is any follow-up.
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