A District Court judge in Colorado has dealt a significant blow to the NCAA’s new five-and-five eligibility rule, which was implemented earlier this month. The rule has been challenged by numerous athletes who were part of the 2022 class and claim it infringes on their rights to make a living through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and have an additional year of eligibility.

Background

The athletes argue that they should have been grandfathered in under the previous rule, which would have allowed them to play for an additional year. The NCAA’s new rule, on the other hand, limits athletes to five years of eligibility. The judge’s decision has ordered the NCAA to create a blanket waiver that grants all athletes an additional year of eligibility for the upcoming year.

The ruling applies to all athletes who began playing in collegiate sports in the 2022-2023 season, competed in NCAA Division I sports, and completed four years of eligibility as defined by the NCAA’s prior rules by the conclusion of the 2025-2026 season. The NCAA could file an appeal in the Tenth Circuit court, but the question remains as to whether the organization should grant a blanket waiver to all athletes to avoid further litigation.

Implications

The decision has significant implications for college athletics, particularly for athletes who were looking to return to school for an additional season. The ruling also raises questions about how it will affect college football and basketball players who went undrafted and are now looking for a way to return to school. The NCAA will need to consider these factors as it decides how to proceed.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.