The NCAA’s recent amendment to its eligibility clock is reshaping college athletics across the nation. Under the new provision, athletes may compete for five seasons within a five‑year span, with the clock starting either when a student enrolls full‑time or at the beginning of the academic year after the athlete’s 19th birthday, whichever occurs first.
How the rule works and why it matters
Historically, once a player signed a professional contract, his college eligibility ended. The updated rule was intended to address the growing number of redshirt seasons and pandemic‑related extensions that had already stretched eligibility to six or seven years for some athletes. By setting clear guardrails, the NCAA hoped to standardize the timeline.
However, the NCAA applied the rule only to athletes who graduated high school in 2023, leaving the Class of 2022 out of the new eligibility window. Those players argue they are being denied both continued education and potential name‑image‑likeness (NIL) earnings.
Legal battles erupt
Several lawsuits have been filed in federal and state courts. In Denver, a federal class‑action suit brought by basketball player Brock Wisne claimed the NCAA violated antitrust law by excluding the 2022 class. A district judge ruled in Wisne’s favor, allowing the excluded athletes to return to their original colleges, but left transfer‑portal restrictions untouched.
An appeals court later paused that ruling, adding to the confusion. Meanwhile, state courts have issued a patchwork of orders. At least 26 eligibility cases have been filed nationwide, with judges granting restraining orders in ten of them. Only one case—concerning basketball player Filip Borovicanin—has been overturned on appeal, resulting in a decision that favored the NCAA.
Players eyeing a return
Among the most high‑profile prospects is Dae’Quan Wright, an undrafted tight end from Mississippi who tried out with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns. Wright now has an agreement to play this season at Louisiana State University, a rival of his former school Ole Miss. The SEC typically blocks intra‑conference moves outside the open transfer portal, which for football opens in January, leaving the impact of the court order on conference rules unclear.
Other athletes, such as Gonzaga’s recruited players from the 2022 class, are also watching the legal landscape closely. One, Javon Bennett, was part of the Borovicanin case that was reversed, while another, Chauncey Wiggins, remains in a Georgia case where the ruling still favors the players.
Conference response and broader implications
Conference leaders convened Monday and issued a statement warning that allowing players to move back and forth between the professional ranks and college “will blur the line between college and professional sports, create significant equity concerns and reduce opportunities for high‑school and current college athletes.”
The ongoing litigation highlights a tension between athletes’ rights to pursue education and compensation, and the traditional structure of college sports that relies on a clear separation from the professional game. As the football and basketball seasons approach, schools are scrambling to adjust rosters, while the legal process continues to unfold.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
