The Weekender: Sorsby Saga Continues With NCAA Inquiry Into His Time At Cincinnati, Palumbo Takes Over As Interim Athletic Director at Michigan State, Former Top College Players Stand Out At NBA Summer League

By 11W Staff on July 12, 2026 at 2:35 pm
Brendan Sorsby
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
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SORSBY SAGA CONTINUES WITH NCAA INQUIRY INTO HIS TIME AT CINCINNATI

Despite being ineligible to play at virtually all levels of football — including the NCAA and NFL — in 2026, the saga surrounding Brendan Sorsby continues to make headlines. 

Earlier this year. the NCAA ruled Sorsby permanently ineligible after he admitted to placing thousands of sports bets — including wagers on Indiana when he played for the Hoosiers in 2022 — throughout his college career. Sorsby spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons at Cincinnati, where he experienced a breakout as a member of the Bearcats, before transferring to Texas Tech as a premier transfer target in 2026. 

The NCAA issued a letter of inquiry to Cincinnati on Wednesday, seeking answers about what the university knew about Sorsby’s conduct during his time with the program. 

"We have had continuous conversations with the NCAA since the initial reports related to impermissible sports wagering began," a statement from the University of Cincinnati read. "As we have stated before, we do not believe any athletics official or staff member was aware of any impermissible sports wagering."

During his time at Cincinnati, Sorsby placed at least 165 bets on college and professional sports, including several Bearcats men’s basketball games; however, there is no record of him betting on Cincinnati football in that period. Sorsby’s agent, Ron Slavin, said in a radio interview that Cincinnati was aware of Sorsby’s conduct and remained quiet. 

PALUMBO TAKES OVER AS INTERIM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT MICHIGAN STATE

It has been a tumultuous era for the Michigan State athletic department, and things got even more difficult for Spartan brass with the departure of short-term athletic director J Batt, who accepted the same role at Kentucky. 

Michigan State also nearly lost its university president, Kevin M. Guskiewicz, who almost left the university for Clemson before receiving a massive pay increase to remain in East Lansing. Guskiewicz then appointed Spartan Ventures CEO Jon Palumbo as the university’s interim athletic director.

Palumbo, who was hired by Batt last year, presided over Spartan Ventures over the past year. Spartan Ventures is a non-profit, tax-exempt group that works to financially support the Michigan State athletic department, including Name, Image and Likeness funding. 

Palumbo has previous stints at Georgia State, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, VCU, Maryland, American, William & Mary and LaSalle. Palumbo spent four years as the athletic director at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, presiding over the athletic department from 2018-2022. 

"Jon has been an integral part of the innovation of MSU Athletics over the past year, and I have every confidence in his ability to maintain its positive trajectory as interim athletic director," said Guskiewicz. "This will be a seamless transition for MSU Athletics, and we look forward to a successful start of the upcoming season for our programs and student-athletes."

FORMER TOP COLLEGE PLAYERS STAND OUT AT NBA LAS VEGAS SUMMER LEAGUE

NBA Las Vegas Summer League is in full swing, and some of college basketball’s brightest stars are already making noise at the next level. 

The top two picks in the NBA Draft, A.J. Dybansta and Darryn Peterson, met on Thursday, July 9, when Dybansta’s Washington Wizards battled with Peterson’s Utah Jazz. The two headliners did not disappoint, as Dybansta’s 27 points and seven rebounds pushed the Wizards past the Jazz 92-88. At the same time, Peterson registered 24 points on 6-of-18 shooting, alongside a disappointing eight turnovers in the loss. 

While Peterson struggled in his Las Vegas Summer League debut, he was outstanding for the Jazz during the three-game Utah Summer League — in which he averaged 26.5 points, 7.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. 

Perhaps the most impressive performance of Las Vegas Summer League to this point, Chicago Bulls forward Caleb Wilson — the No. 4 overall selection out of North Carolina — posted 35 points, five rebounds, three blocks and two steals in a 97-96 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, July 10. Wilson connected on 7-of-11 three-point attempts in the loss. 

Former Duke star and No. 3 overall pick, Cam Boozer, pushed the Grizzlies past the Bulls, despite Wilson’s standout performance, dropping 23 points alongside six rebounds and four assists. 

Meanwhile, former Ohio State point guard Bruce Thornton has hit the ground running with the Houston Rockets after being selected No. 31 overall. In two games, Thornton has posted averages of 22.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.0 steals as a member of the Rockets.

ICYMI 

OHIO STATE TO PLAY IN OUTDOOR DOUBLEHEADER WITH CINCINNATI, DAYTON AND XAVIER

Four of Ohio’s most prominent college basketball programs will meet for a doubleheader at Cincinnati’s Lindner Family Tennis Center on Oct. 7, as part of the CareSource Invitational.

10 OHIO STATE PLAYERS WHO WILL BE TEAM LEADERS FOR THE BUCKEYES IN 2026

The 11W staff takes a look at which Ohio State players will step up as team leaders for the Buckeyes during the 2026 season.

OHIO JUDGE GRANTS INJUNCTION FOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYERS SUING THE NCAA

An Ohio judge granted a preliminary injunction for a number of college basketball players who sued the NCAA for eligibility, ruling the age-based model as unfair for athletes.

WHAT’S NEXT

  • 55 Days: Ohio State football's season opener vs. Ball State
  • 97 Days: The Buckeyes face Indiana in Bloomington
  • 139 Days: The Game
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