Top Jackson State WR Nate Rembert granted injunction to play in 2026 season

Jackson State wide receiver Nate Rembert secured a preliminary injunction, permitting him to participate in the upcoming 2026 season. Initially enrolling at Jackson State in 2025, Rembert was later informed by the school's compliance department that his eligibility ran out in 2024, according to court files accessed by the Clarion Ledger.

Following the rejection of his waiver and appeal for the 2026 season in March, Rembert sued the NCAA in the Hinds County Chancery Court on April 8, seeking a preliminary injunction. He received a temporary restraining order on April 23 and a preliminary injunction on August 19, granted by Judge Tiffany Grove. The Jackson State institution did not comment on the matter.

During his college career, Rembert played for Mississippi Valley State, where he earned All-SWAC first team honors in 2024, and Edward Waters, his last stop, from 2023 to 2024. He had 750 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2025 and earned a spot on the All-SWAC second team. Rembert contended that even though he graduated in 2021, he remained eligible for one more year because he did not play college football until 2023.

He transferred from Florida State College at Jacksonville in 2021, intending to play basketball, but the school's basketball program was disbanded before the season began. In 2022, Rembert played for Jacksonville Athletic Academy, which was not affiliated with any intercollegiate athletic association at the time, as per court documents.

The NCAA maintained that the two years at FSCJ counted against his eligibility, regardless of whether he played football during that period, as per their Five-Year Rule, which permits athletes five years to play four seasons of competition. Rembert's preliminary injunction hearing took place on July 30. Tia Reid covered Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. She can be reached at treid@usatodayco.com or on X @tiareid65.