Federal Appeals Court Halts Extra Eligibility Order for 2022 Graduates
A U.S. 10th Circuit panel temporarily suspended a district court ruling that would have granted thousands of former college athletes an additional year of eligibility, pending further appeal.
A three-judge panel of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver issued a stay on Friday that pauses a district-court order allowing athletes who graduated high school in 2022 to receive a fifth year of NCAA eligibility. The stay remains in effect until the appeal is heard in full.
The lawsuit was brought by players whose eligibility ended after the 2023 season and who were not covered by the NCAA’s new rule that extends eligibility to five years beginning next season. Plaintiffs argued that they should not be barred from the additional year of competition and related educational and name-image-likeness benefits.
The NCAA responded that schools had already set rosters based on the existing rules and that allowing thousands of previously ineligible athletes to return could disrupt team planning. The association’s chief legal officer, Scott Bearby, said schools would not face NCAA sanctions for athletes who competed before the stay, but reiterated that those players are no longer eligible.
The decision comes amid a series of court rulings across the country that have created uncertainty for both football and basketball programs. Some schools have already added players who won eligibility lawsuits in state courts, while coaches have expressed frustration over the timing of the NCAA’s announcements.
The appellate court’s order does not resolve the broader legal challenges to the NCAA’s eligibility policy, and further appeals are expected.