NCAA Sues Ohio Governor Over Fifth-Year Eligibility Order
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed the executive order on Tuesday.
The NCAA has filed a lawsuit against Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, challenging the legality of his recent executive order regarding college athlete eligibility. The 39-page federal complaint, filed in the Southern District of Ohio, asks a judge to declare the order unconstitutional and prevent its enforcement. The order, signed by DeWine on Tuesday, allows Ohio schools to grant players a fifth year of eligibility, provided they meet age requirements and have not played professional sports.
However, the NCAA argues that the order gives Ohio colleges an unfair competitive advantage and violates state law. NCAA President Charlie Baker stated that the order undermines fair competition and could lead to a race to the bottom among states. The case comes in response to the NCAA's new age-based eligibility policy, which allows players five years to complete five seasons of competition.
DeWine's order specifically aimed to prevent the NCAA from denying players a fifth season, as hundreds of players from the 2022 freshman class have begun to sue. Meanwhile, the NCAA is also lobbying for the Protect College Sports Act, bipartisan legislation intended to codify its age-based eligibility policy into federal law and provide the NCAA with antitrust protection.
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