NCAA eligibility ruling grants fifth year to 2022 graduates

U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney has granted a class-wide preliminary injunction that provides high school graduates from the class of 2022 with a fifth year of athletic eligibility for the 2026-27 season. The ruling follows arguments that the NCAA violated antitrust laws by excluding these athletes from a new five-year eligibility framework.

The injunction includes specific limitations: players who did not enter the transfer portal during the original window are not permitted to transfer under this order, and those who have signed professional contracts are ineligible. Additionally, returning players may only rejoin their former schools if a roster spot is available.

The NCAA’s attempt to stay the injunction was denied. The ruling has created significant roster management challenges for collegiate programs, particularly those already at scholarship limits. In the football sector, Kentucky linebacker Alex Afari Jr. has been cleared to practice while his specific eligibility status remains under review, as he did not enter the transfer portal prior to the ruling.