Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is “backing the Big 12,” arguing that the conference can “punish Texas Tech amid a sports betting scandal.” The letter, posted Monday, follows one from Texas AG Ken Paxton threatening legal action against the Big 12 if it sanctions Texas Tech over QB Brendan Sorsby‘s gambling. Kobach said Paxton’s antitrust claims “are incorrect.” Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond wrote a letter supporting the conference on Friday. Kobach wrote in a post on X, “The Big 12 should not be intimidated by the Texas AG’s Office,” adding the Kansas AG’s office “stands ready to assist the Big 12″ (TOPEKA CAPITAL-JOURNAL, 6/15).
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and AG Derek Brown also posted a letter backing the conference on Monday, urging it to “take action against Texas Tech” for allowing Sorsby to play this season despite the NCAA ruling him ineligible for gambling on college football. Cox and Brown wrote putting Sorsby on the field “not only bends a rule but places the integrity of every game he plays in question and, by extension, puts the integrity of the conference itself at risk” (DESERET NEWS, 6/15).
