NCAA to Appeal Colorado Judge's Injunction Restoring Fifth Year of Eligibility for 2022 Athletes

The National Collegiate Athletic Association said it will seek to overturn a Colorado federal court order that restores a fifth year of eligibility for student-athletes who graduated high school in 2022. In a letter to member institutions, NCAA chief legal officer Scott Bearby argued that U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney lacks the authority to override the House v. NCAA settlement that set roster limits for college programs.

"The court's decision to certify a nationwide class and grant sweeping injunctive relief with virtually no evidence, and without witness testimony or even so much as a hearing, invites further chaos in college sports and irreparably harms thousands of student-athletes already on campus," Bearby wrote. "We intend to appeal the Colorado order and will seek to restore the status quo as soon as possible to protect participation opportunities for the countless student-athletes who chose where to attend school based on the understanding that the rules adopted by the NCAA's member institutions would be applied as written," he added. NCAA president Charlie Baker also expressed disagreement with the ruling and urged Congress to pass the Protect College Sports Act, warning that a sudden restoration of eligibility for an entire class could cause disorder. The act, supported by the Big Ten and SEC, does not address pending litigation and therefore would not affect the Colorado decision. Earlier, a Tennessee court had issued a temporary injunction for Vanderbilt guard Jalen Washington and 18 other basketball players, granting them a fifth year of eligibility and allowing them to enter the transfer portal. Following the Colorado ruling, reports emerged of several football players—such as former Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding and Georgia safety JaCorey Thomas—considering a return to college football with renewed eligibility after participating in NFL minicamps.