Once again, the Texas government is here to ‘save’ Texas Tech from a conference
The only rational explanation why Texas’ elected officials love Texas Tech is guilt.
Most Red Raiders feel that Texas Tech does not get its proper piece of all of that Permian Basin revenue, which flows legally, and freely, to Texas A&M and the University of Texas; those rights bloat A&M to UT’s respective endowments to the billions, while Tech only gets millions.
This may explain why for the last 30 years some of Texas’ more prominent elected officials keep swinging their sword for the Red Raiders, including now our favorite God-fearing family man, attorney general Ken Paxton.
Since no one knows what Kenny P actually does, it is appropriate that he joined fellow Senator Ted Cruz along with aspiring football coach, Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, in their efforts not only to “fight Washington,” but now save college athletics.
On Thursday our state attorney general did what he does better than anyone ever has who has held his job - issue press releases and threaten people in exchange for free advertising, aka media coverage.
In response to the potential action entertained by the Big 12 Conference against Texas Tech University’s decision to keep quarterback Brendan Sorsby on the team despite his laundry list of gambling offenses, Paxton told Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark that any move will result in a lawsuit from his office.
Paxton’s statement says, “This letter serves to notify the Big 12 that any such action would be unlawful and would expose the Conference to substantial liability.”
Texans’ tax dollars at work.
Tech’s support of Sorsby is resulting in a backlash the school was not anticipating. Not to this volume. College coaches, administrators and prominent boosters all over the state, and nation, are furious at Texas Tech football coach Joey McGuire, Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt, and Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell.
People from Texas A&M, TCU, Baylor, Houston, Texas and every other major university in America usually can’t agree on the time of day, but on the issue of Texas Tech they are in unison.
Texas Tech’s favorable history with Texas elected officials
Paxton’s public proclamation is the third high profile instance in the last 30 years of a high-ranking Texas politician having Tech’s back, and front.
In the mid 1990s, it was Texas Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock who intervened on behalf of Texas Tech when the Big 8 Conference and the Southwest Conference were negotiating a merger. Some SWC schools were not going to be included, and Bullock made sure that if Texas A&M and Texas were “going north” to join up with the Big 8, that Texas Tech had an invitation.
Had it not been for Bullock’s immense political power in this state, Texas Tech likely is not invited to the Big 12.
In 2010, the Pac 10 was heavily pursuing Oklahoma and Texas to join that league, which left the Big 12 on the precipice of falling apart.
Former Texas Senator and state congressman Kent Hance, who during that period was Texas Tech’s chancellor, was a key figure in preventing OU and UT from leaving, which effectively “bought” the league another decade.
Now Paxton, an attention-craving AG who realizes his best chance to win the Senate race against Democrat James Talarico in November is to remain in the headlines, and relevant, at all hours of the day, is “fighting” for America by threatening the evil Big 12.
Texas Tech’s next steps with Brendan Sorsby
As of Thursday, Texas Tech officials are not moving off their support of Sorsby; they plan for him to be a part of the team after he serves a two-game suspension to start the season.
The Big 12’s leadership is scheduled to meet again on Monday in an effort to resolve a story line that could hijack their entire 2026 season; a fear is, among others, is that “Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby” will collectively subject the conference to a narrative that league members want zero affiliation.
“We are taking time with our legal counsel to understand the concerns of the state and will meet again with the full Board next week,” league commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement.
At least two prominent athletic officials in Texas believe Sorsby will not play this season for the Red Raiders; that there will be enough pressure applied by the NCAA and Big 12 to make it not worth for Texas Tech to proceed with Sorsby on the sidelines, let alone playing the games.
If and when the NCAA or the Big 12 tries to come after the Red Raiders, the Texas state attorney promises to do what he does best - create publicity for himself in an effort to remain relevant.
This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 2:59 PM.
