Colorado Judge's Ruling Gives 2022 Student‑Athletes Extra Year, Shaking Clemson Baseball and West Virginia Football

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney in Colorado issued a class‑wide preliminary injunction that grants all high‑school athletes who graduated in 2022 an additional year of NCAA eligibility. The order is pending appeal to the Tenth Circuit and could affect roster limits set by a prior NCAA settlement.

At Clemson University, the decision could make outfielder Jack Crighton eligible for a fifth season, raising questions about whether his eligibility would count against the baseball roster cap. At West Virginia University, the ruling opens a short‑lived transfer‑portal window from Aug 3‑10 for the newly eligible seniors, prompting speculation that players such as Fred Perry and Eddie Kelly Jr. might return. Coaches are weighing roster space, grandfathered players, and the possibility of NCAA roster expansions if the injunction is upheld.