Cincinnati Suing QB Brendan Sorsby for $1 Million Over Transfer

Cincinnati has filed a federal lawsuit against former quarterback Brendan Sorsby, demanding the payment of a $1 million exit fee the university says he owes after transferring to Texas Tech. The suit, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, claims Sorsby breached an 18-month name, image and likeness agreement that was scheduled to cover the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

According to court documents, the NIL contract required Sorsby to remain with the Bearcats for two seasons and included a liquidated-damages clause triggered by an early departure. University officials contend they paid the quarterback a significant sum in 2025 “with the express expectation that it would realize the majority of the benefits during the following season, 2026, after Sorsby’s play developed and his brand grew.”

Sorsby entered the transfer portal on Jan. 2 and subsequently appeared on a Times Square billboard announcing his commitment to Texas Tech, an act Cincinnati argues violated the exclusivity provisions of the deal. The university states that representatives for the quarterback “advised that Sorsby refuses to pay the University anything.”

During the 2025 campaign, Sorsby threw for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns against only five interceptions while completing 61.6 percent of his passes. He added 580 rushing yards and nine scores on the ground. Reports indicate his new NIL agreement with Texas Tech will pay between $4 million and $6 million for the 2026 season.

In a statement released to ESPN, Cincinnati Athletics emphasized its obligation to protect university resources: “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.”

The case now heads to federal court, where a judge will determine whether the liquidated-damages clause is enforceable and whether Sorsby must remit the $1 million sought by his former school.