Extra Year Of Eligibility Denied For Some In New Court Ruling

The NCAA won in court on Friday, reversing a federal judge’s earlier order that would have given athletes an extra year of eligibility.

The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals issued the decision, part of an ongoing legal battle over athletes who started in 2022-2023 and played four seasons.

In June 2026, the NCAA approved a new rule called the 5-for-5 rule, which lets athletes play five seasons in five years. The Division I cabinet approved it unanimously, and it was first proposed in April. Under the old rule, athletes had five years to compete in four of those years. The new rule was designed to simplify eligibility and avoid legal battles, but it has caused just that in this case.

The problem is with the 2022 high school class and athletes who entered school in the fall of 2022. This is because the new rule says that players who have already completed their fourth seasons do not get a fifth. In the legal battle, these athletes complain that they are not being treated fairly, even though the rule did not apply when they began their college careers.

As it stands, the rule would apply to players who begin their fourth year this year.

The NCAA is not trying to take this fifth year away for no reason, as it would hurt incoming freshmen and transfers if, out of nowhere, these players, who were thought to be done, came back for another year.

This 5-for-5 rule is new and was formed less than three months ago, meaning this is happening quickly, and many roster decisions in college have already been made for next year.

The legal war is expected to continue, and this is not expected to be the last lawsuit regarding this issue.