The NCAA’s newly implemented eligibility regulations faced a significant obstacle following a federal court decision in Denver. This ruling could potentially cause widespread changes in collegiate sports, allowing certain athletes an unexpected extension to their college careers.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney ruled that high school athletes from the class of 2022, who have already completed four years of college sports, are entitled to a fifth year of eligibility in the upcoming academic year. This decision challenges the NCAA’s intention to enforce the “five for five” eligibility rule, initially slated for athletes enrolling in college from the fall of 2027.
The implications of this ruling are substantial, with the potential to deeply affect college sports rosters nationwide. For example, undrafted NFL training camp players might reconsider their options and return to college for an additional season.
Judge Sweeney justified the preliminary injunction by highlighting the “irreparable harm” athletes would face without it. She did not accept the NCAA’s argument that the new rule would cause “roster chaos” if applied retroactively.
In response to the ruling, NCAA President Charlie Baker mentioned a congressional bill aimed at granting the NCAA antitrust protections concerning eligibility matters. “Today’s rulings and the chaos they bring to college sports are exactly why it’s time to pass this bill,” Baker stated.
The Denver decision followed a similar ruling by a Tennessee court, which granted a fifth year of eligibility to Jalen Washington, a former Vanderbilt player, and 18 other basketball athletes. In June, the NCAA had approved a new eligibility model for Division I athletes. This model would allow five seasons of competition spread over a five-year period, starting from either their full-time enrollment or the academic year after their 19th birthday, whichever comes first.
While the Tennessee ruling was limited to 19 basketball players, the Colorado court’s decision extended broader protections. The class certification granted by Judge Sweeney means that the ruling applies to all Division I athletes who commenced their college careers in the 2022-23 academic year.
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