Athletes Capitalizing As NCAA Fights to Overturn New Eligibility Ruling

College athletes now have the opportunity to play an additional year of eligibility due to a ruling in the Wisne v. NCAA lawsuit. The NCAA is actively seeking to reverse this decision through an appeal, which has resulted in an expedited briefing schedule by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Players may learn next week if their newfound eligibility could be reversed.

The NCAA's Chief Legal Officer, Scott Bearby, stated that the age-based eligibility rule should not be applied retroactively, as it would not be in the best interest of current and future college athletes. The NCAA has also defended its decision and asked the Tenth Circuit to permanently reverse the injunction. The original eligibility policy was established in June, granting players up to five seasons starting on their 19th birthday or when they entered college, whichever came first.

However, players who entered college in 2022 and had already completed four seasons would not be granted a fifth year. This led to numerous lawsuits, including the Wisne case in Colorado, which resulted in thousands of players receiving a fifth year. Despite the NCAA's attempts to enforce other rules, the chaos continues, with players taking advantage of their additional eligibility and possibly transferring to other programs.