NCAA eligibility stay revokes blanket fifth year for 2022 athletes, prompting new lawsuits
A federal appeals court halted a nationwide ruling that granted an extra year of eligibility to the 2022 class, leaving many players dependent on individual court orders while new legal actions are expected.
A U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay on a Colorado district court decision that had awarded a blanket fifth year of eligibility to athletes from the 2022 graduating class. The stay means those players are once again ineligible unless they have secured separate temporary restraining orders (TROs) or injunctions in state courts.
Several athletes remain eligible because of such orders. Courts in Louisiana, Kentucky and other states have issued TROs that allow players, including former Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos and New Mexico kicker Luke Drzewiecki, to return for a fifth season and, in some cases, enter the transfer portal.
Legal experts said the Colorado stay will likely trigger a new wave of lawsuits as players seek state-court relief before the college football season begins next weekend. Attorneys expect filings to increase next week, aiming to restore eligibility for those affected by the appellate decision.
The situation also raises questions for the SEC, which has strict intraconference transfer rules. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey recently reminded schools that those rules remain in effect, but the league declined to comment on how they might be impacted by the Louisiana case. Plaintiffs’ lawyer Ryan Downton indicated the order should permit intra-conference transfers and that discussions with the SEC are underway.
The eligibility dispute, which began after the July 31 Colorado ruling, is expected to continue fluctuating throughout the season as courts issue varying decisions.