The NCAA is defending its updated eligibility rules against a federal class action lawsuit filed by 11 college athletes in Colorado. The athletes allege that the new regulations, implemented on June 24, 2026, adversely affect their ability to compete and, consequently, their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) earnings.
The lawsuit states that unless the court intervenes, the plaintiffs will suffer significant financial damages and lose the opportunity to complete their collegiate careers alongside teammates who will benefit from the rule changes. For some athletes, this also jeopardizes scholarships and opportunities to finish their degrees.
Under the NCAA's "Five-Year Eligibility Rule," all college athletes are granted five years to compete. However, the complaint asserts that this rule unfairly impacts those who utilized their eligibility during the 2025-26 collegiate season and would have otherwise had an additional year.
Plaintiffs include Division I athletes such as basketball players Cade Tyson of Minnesota and Brock Wisne of Northern Colorado. The complaint argues that the NCAA implemented the rule in a manner designed to prevent these athletes from playing in the 2026-2027 season.
This lawsuit follows previous legal challenges to the NCAA's eligibility rules. In one instance, a judge in Ohio granted a preliminary injunction in favor of 24 men's and women's college basketball players, allowing them to continue playing and enter the transfer portal. The judge determined that the NCAA's new system had impacted them unfairly.