Max Olson

Covering national college football & transfer portal for @espn

[Max Olson @max_olson]

Oklahoma attorney general Gentner Drummond is calling on the Big 12 to suspend Brendan Sorsby and sanction Texas Tech, dismissing legal threats from Ken Paxton as "meritless." More on his letter to Brett Yormark: https://t.co/fLGFtPJ0zc

[Pete Thamel @PeteThamel]

NEWS: The Oklahoma Attorney General's office issued a rebuttal letter to the Texas AG's office's letter to the Big 12. Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond says that the idea that Big 12 may not sanction its members is “facially absurd” and says Texas Tech’s actions have “constituted a shameful chapter in the story of college football.” Per me and @max_olson.

[Pete Thamel @PeteThamel]

Statement from Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark to ESPN: “Shortly before the start of today's Big 12 Executive Board meeting, the Conference received a letter from the Texas Attorney General’s office notifying the Conference of potential legal action from Texas Tech if the Conference pursues certain actions under its Bylaws. 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.

We moved forward with our Executive Board today in preparation for our full Board meeting on Monday. We had a good and informative discussion. Sentiment among the Executive Board was no different from what we heard from the ADs earlier this week.

Our discussion with the full Board will determine our course of action, and all options remain on the table.”

[Max Olson @max_olson]

There’s a fun pickup: UCF adding a 6-foot-11 men’s basketball transfer from Campbell to its offensive line room.

[UCF Football @UCF_Football]

Welcome to UCF, @MarcellinusDan4 ⚔️

6’11” joining the trenches 😮‍💨

[Max Olson @max_olson]

Who are the top 10 wide receivers in college football? @ByEliLederman and I surveyed 20+ GMs, scouting directors and personnel staffers across the sport.

No debate around Jeremiah Smith at No. 1. Here's how they ranked the rest of the best WRs in CFB: https://t.co/kf0h2IEBlq

[ESPN College Football @ESPNCFB]

Over the next two years, who will be the best overall CFB team? 🤔

@ESPNRittenberg dives into future power rankings 👀

More: https://t.co/gxYSSI9Z3F

[Pete Thamel @PeteThamel]

Statement from Brett Yormark on the athletic director call that just concluded.

[Pete Thamel @PeteThamel]

NEWS: Big Ten officials are expected to discuss in the upcoming days a league-wide mandate to not play Texas Tech in any sports, per three Big Ten sources. This is in the wake of Nebraska AD Troy Dannen informing his staff today that they aren't allowed to schedule Texas Tech.

[Pete Thamel @PeteThamel]

“How (can you) trust the outcome of a game again?” ESPN story with @max_olson and @Mark_Schlabach on the unified reaction around college sports to the Brendan Sorsby ruling. Big 12 ADs will talk about it tomorrow. Can anything change? https://t.co/pytYTKWXe9

[Pete Thamel @PeteThamel]

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark to ESPN on Brendan Sorsby ruling:
“The ramifications of today’s ruling are significant and could have broad impacts across college athletics, creating great concern amongst our membership. I’ve been consulting with our key stakeholders and have scheduled meetings with our Conference ADs and Executive Board this week. We are also in touch with Charlie Baker and anticipate the NCAA to appeal the order in the next 24-48 hours. We will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation.”

[Dan Wetzel @DanWetzel]

NCAA is now the only sports organization on earth that can’t ban a player for betting on his own team.

8.7 billion people on one side … one Texas judge on the other.

Brendan Sorsby won a temporary injunction. The NCAA may have a permanent problem.

Column for @espn

https://t.co/gji5QbnC3c

[Max Olson @max_olson]

One of the conditions listed in the preliminary injunction: Brendan Sorsby would serve a 2-game suspension.

[Pete Thamel @PeteThamel]

NEWS: A judge in district court in Lubbock County, Texas, has granted the injunction requested by Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby. He’s set to be eligible for the 2026 season.

[Pete Thamel @PeteThamel]

NEWS: A judge in district court in Lubbock County, Texas, has granted the injunction requested by Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby. He’s set to be eligible for the 2026 season.

[Max Olson @max_olson]

Quick turnaround here on a tampering case from this year’s portal cycle. Penalties for tampering with a player who wasn’t in the portal yet:

[NCAA News @NCAA_PR]

Tampering violations occurred in North Dakota football program.

https://t.co/m3ERqNkFem

[Max Olson @max_olson]

😬

[Aer Lingus College Football Classic @cfbireland]

We like ours better 🤷‍♂️

[Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter]

🚨🚨🚨

Bombshell: The Browns are finalizing a trade that will send two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, per @rapsheet, @TomPelissero and me.

In exchange for Garrett, the Rams are expected to send Pro-Bowl edge Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick and other draft-pick compensation still being negotiated to the Browns.

[David Payne Purdum @DavidPurdum]

Docs: Brendan Sorsby placed at least 40 bets involving Indiana football as a quarterback for the Hoosiers, used sportsbook accounts registered to a family member and friends to wager approximately $90,000 over four years, and continued to gamble after transferring from Cincinnati to Texas Tech in December.

https://t.co/ewzcTK7Wj7

[Max Olson @max_olson]

Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby shared this statement addressing his gambling addiction and recovery after completing a 35-day treatment program (via his IG)

[Pete Thamel @PeteThamel]

Sources: The NCAA has denied Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s request for reinstatement for eligibility for the 2026 season. Sorsby has completed his 35-day in-patient rehab for his gambling addiction at Algamus in Goodyear, Arizona.

[💫🅰️♈️🆔 @ADavidHaleJoint]

Every spring I put way way way too much time and research into ranking every FBS QB situation into tiers knowing that you’ll immediately search for your team then tell me I’m an idiot. It’s a cathartic process. Anyway, here ya go… https://t.co/q1q0Dstkgl