Texas Tech just gained a heavyweight supporter in Brendan Sorsby controversy

We knew it wouldn't take long for the government to get involved. 

Ken Paxton, the current Texas attorney general and the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, has stepped into the squabble between Texas Tech and the Big 12 over concerns that conference schools will boycott games against the Red Raiders if quarterback Brendan Sorsby plays. 

In his letter, Paxton says the Big XII would be in violation of state and federal antitrust laws if member schools choose to deny access to Texas Tech.

“Any sanction against Texas Tech for acting consistent with the Order would be a per se violation of federal and state antitrust laws — a naked horizontal agreement among competitors to disadvantage Texas Tech by cutting off access to the resources it needs to compete,” the letter reads.

“The Conference would face exposure to treble damages, including for Texas Tech’s lost football revenues, damages to its alumni contributions and damages to its recruitment, plus attorneys’ fees. The total exposure — for both the Big 12 and its members, joint and severally — will be substantially more than $200 million."

Texas AG Ken Paxton sends a letter of warning to the Big 12

This isn't a political post, so if you want to read about Paxton and the other things that he's been involved in, a Google search will serve you better. There have been plenty of reactions after Monday's ruling to grant Sorsby a temporary injunction against the NCAA that would allow him to play in the upcoming season. Some programs, like Georgia and Nebraska, have taken grandstanding to a new level by "banning" their programs from playing the Red Raiders, but the more immediate concerns come from the schools in the Big 12, who have discussed not playing Texas Tech this fall. Sorsby is going to serve a two-game suspension, which was what Texas Tech originally suggested to the NCAA, but he is slated to return for conference play, which will begin September 18 against Houston. 

This move from Paxton should have been expected. He is the top law enforcement officer in the state, and he's going to support Monday's ruling from one of the state's judges. There is still a lot to unpack here in terms of what Texas Tech's plans are going to be with Sorsby on the field and how they will continue to support his rehabilitation from his gambling addiction. Joey McGuire suggested that Sorsby might not play immediately upon reinstatement, but right now that message is being met with a collective eye roll.

READ MORE: Brendan Sorsby’s Texas Tech eligibility comes with conditions, here’s what that means

That is probably very frustrating to the fanbase, but that's where things are right now. Texas Tech has sort of taken on a villainous role in several different sports, and it feels like the entire college sports world is rooting against the Red Raiders. But Paxton is jumping into the fight and his involvement gives the school a very prominent figure on its side. The next step is unknown, but eventually there will be a resolution. 

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