A federal judge in Colorado has issued a class-wide preliminary injunction that requires the NCAA to grant an additional year of eligibility to athletes who began collegiate play in the 2022-2023 academic year. The ruling, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte Sweeney, effectively halts the NCAA's recently implemented five-and-five eligibility rule for this cohort.
The legal challenge centered on the argument that athletes in the 2022 class, who completed their fourth year of eligibility under previous NCAA rules, should be grandfathered into the new guidelines. Plaintiffs contended that the immediate implementation of the five-year rule infringed upon their ability to profit from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities and their expectation of an additional year of collegiate competition.
"All persons in the United States who began to play in collegiate sports in the 2022–2023 season, competed in NCAA Division I sports, and completed four years of eligibility as defined by the NCAA’s prior rules by the conclusion of the 2025–2026 season, and are therefore barred from playing a fifth season due to the NCAA’s adoption and immediate implementation of the Five-Year Eligibility Rule," Judge Sweeney stated in her order.
The NCAA could pursue an appeal in the Tenth Circuit Court. However, the ruling raises questions about whether the organization will issue a blanket waiver to avoid further litigation. Compliance departments across college campuses are reportedly discussing the implications of the decision, including how it may affect roster management for sports like football and basketball, where rosters are often at capacity.
This development also comes as questions arise regarding specific athlete cases, such as Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter. Carter declared for the NFL Draft after the 2025 season but returned to college after an injury. Despite an appeal that reduced his suspension from three games to two, his situation highlights the complexities surrounding eligibility and NCAA rules following draft declarations and interactions with agents.