Will URI football's AJ Peña and Justin Carcel be allowed to play?
Players and coaches are attempting to pick their way through an ever more complicated landscape involving the NCAA and years of eligibility.
URI football players AJ Peña and Justin Carcel are facing uncertainty about their participation in the 2026 college football season. Their future is uncertain as they navigate the complex landscape involving the NCAA, the legal system, additional years of eligibility, and more. URI is set to host Merrimack in a Friday night game, with both teams aiming for a playoff berth.
Peña, who is URI's all-time leader in sacks and tackles for loss, expressed his focus on Week 1, stating that he can only control his daily preparation. Coaches and players are grappling with the current state of affairs, with temporary injunctions and restraining orders complicating matters. Fleming, the URI coach, has been in the game for over four decades and finds it hard to imagine the drastic changes to the college sports landscape.
He acknowledges the shift, but also expresses concern about the potential for too many changes at once.
The Mustangs' situation is particularly complicated, having been caught up in a scandal involving illegal payments to players, recruits, and their families. The NCAA is fighting against retroactively awarding eligibility, and a federal request has been made to stay such decisions for now. Peña and Carcel could be forced to sit out if there is any question about their status, but the URI coach remains hopeful that they will be allowed to play.
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