“The Program,” that four-part docuseries following the Texas Tech football team, officially launched on Paramount+ this past Friday, September 4, and Red Raider fans are about to get a raw look at their wild offseason. This isn’t some highlight reel, folks. This is a deep dive into the last nine months, and some of it, especially Sorsby’s situation, is tough to relive so close to the 2026 season opener.
The Drama Unfolds: Gambling, Lawsuits, and Rodeo Cowboys
Dennis Quaid narrates this thing, and seriously, the intro screams “Friday Night Lights” inspiration. Episode one sets the stage, bringing us up to speed on Tech’s rise and introducing key figures like Ben Roberts, Terrance Carter Jr., and of course, Brendan Sorsby. It doesn’t waste time, ending with a bombshell teaser: Sorsby being sued by Cincinnati for $1 million, a story KAMC journalist David Collier broke on TV. Episode two covers the spring game and ends with Coach Joey McGuire dropping another truth bomb: Sorsby is under investigation for gambling. Oh, and you also get to see defensive linemen trying on cowboy outfits and hitting the rodeo, which is a wild pivot in tone for sure.
Sorsby’s Own Words Rock the Program
Episode three shifts gears as the Sorsby situation really gets going. We see Will Hammond grinding with personal trainer Jeff Christensen, rehabbing that ACL tear, while Ben Roberts tries to lead as a captain through this mess. Sorsby gets his injunction, closing the investigation, but the real gut punch comes in episode four. Right at the start, the director asks Sorsby about his gambling. Sporting a new haircut, Sorsby details his past and what led to everything. And here’s the kicker: Texas Tech and Sorsby initially argued he hadn’t bet since arriving in Lubbock. Sorsby himself proved that wrong, admitting he did it anyway, even when he was making good money. He straight up acknowledged putting his now-former teammates in a terrible light. The decision for him to leave the team came with tears in McGuire’s office, especially after the Big 12 Conference sued Texas Tech to enforce punishments if Sorsby had played.
Picking Up the Pieces for the Season Ahead
The finale, which was an unfinalized copy, moves past the Sorsby drama pretty quick, just ten minutes on the backlash before he and Texas Tech decided to cut ties. The last thirty minutes are all about picking up the pieces, focusing heavily on Hammond, and getting ready for the season. Interestingly, Sorsby actually makes an appearance at Tech’s practice late in fall camp, which is wild after everything that went down. And as a random observation, the first player interviewed in the documentary, aside from Sorsby, is freshman running back Ashton Rowden. That was a total curveball! This whole documentary lays bare a tumultuous offseason. With the 2026 season here, the Red Raiders have to find a way forward, rallying around their leaders and pushing past the distractions from this crazy few months.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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