College football player Roy Alexander is challenging a six-game suspension handed down by the NCAA for breaking betting rules. Alexander admitted to placing bets between 2023 and 2025 while playing for Albany and Incarnate Word. He later transferred to Texas Tech before returning to Incarnate Word.
The lawsuit argues the penalty is excessive. Alexander did not bet on his own teams or compromise game integrity. He stopped betting on his own and took responsibility. His lawyers point to the case of quarterback Brendon Sorsby, who received a permanent ban from the NCAA but obtained a temporary injunction from a Texas judge. Sorsby had placed more bets, including on his own team's games, yet managed to suspend the sanction. He later withdrew the suit and entered the NFL draft, which did not take place.
The NCAA briefly relaxed its rules last year, allowing players to bet on professional sports. Colleges voted against the change and the league reinstated a full ban. Student-athletes cannot bet on professional or college competitions. The NCAA told ESPN it will continue enforcing the rules and will not tolerate violations.
Law professor Melinda Roth said the Sorsby case reinforced "the ongoing decline of the organization's authority." The NCAA has lost numerous legal battles. The Ninth Circuit ruled that barring athletes from earning on their Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) violates antitrust law. Students can now monetise the commercial industry around college sports. The NCAA also agreed to pay $2.57bn to thousands of athletes in a settlement. If Alexander wins, other students may challenge disciplinary action over betting.
