NCAA Gets A Major Win in Fight Over 5th Year Eligibility

The NCAA picked up a big legal victory Friday in the ongoing battle over whether members of the 2022 high school class should receive a 5th season of college eligibility.

A federal judge in Colorado had previously issued a nationwide ruling granting players from the 2022 class an additional season. That ruling has now been stayed during the appeals process, meaning the additional eligibility protection is no longer in effect, but expect players to file appeals challenging the ruling.

As a result, players covered only by the nationwide ruling are currently ineligible for the 2026 season. Players who have separately received a temporary restraining order or other relief through their own lawsuits may still be able to play.

More than 150 athletes have filed 18 eligibility lawsuits across 15 states, and judges have sided with players through temporary restraining orders or injunctions in 11 of those cases.

The situation has created unprecedented chaos in college and the NFL, as some former college players currently on NFL rosters have even entered the transfer portal after receiving temporary legal protection in a separate Louisiana case. We’re at the point where players are receiving paychecks from NFL teams, playing in preseason games, and still deciding to return to the collegiate level.

We are in the wild west of college sports.