All articles tagged with #fifth year eligibility
LSU urged the SEC to drop the federal lawsuit over players’ fifth-year eligibility and, citing counsel, skipped a crucial meeting as SEC leaders weighed possible expulsion; the conference met without LSU and took no action, while the appeals court upheld a state judge’s ruling allowing former players to seek the fifth year and the federal suit against LSU remains pending.
Kentucky basketball recruit Mark Mitchell decommitted from UK and will re-enroll at Missouri, with plans to play for the Tigers if a fifth year of eligibility is granted amid SEC transfer-rule disputes and ongoing eligibility court matters.
Mark Mitchell will return to Missouri for the 2026-27 season, pursuing a fifth year of eligibility after initially committing to Kentucky; the SEC transfer-policy changes make Missouri a clearer path to eligibility, though his playing status this season is not guaranteed, and he previously averaged 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists for Missouri.
SEC will comply with a court order that blocks penalties for teams signing former NFL players who earned a fifth year of college eligibility, allowing LSU to add players released by pro teams; the dispute likely continues, with advocates pushing Congress to pass the Protect College Sports Act.
Former LSU edge rusher Jack Pyburn says he would return to LSU if the Buccaneers release him and a court allows a fifth year of eligibility for players who have exhausted their college eligibility; the Baton Rouge lawsuit against the NCAA and SEC seeks to authorize another year and void penalties, with LSU already adding three fifth-year seniors under a temporary restraining order. If Pyburn lands back at LSU, he could bolster the Tigers’ defensive end rotation alongside transfers and a highly-touted freshman.
A Dallas judge granted a temporary restraining order blocking the SEC and NCAA from enforcing a plan that would disregard a prior injunction granting a fifth year of college eligibility to players from the 2022 high-school class who’ve spent time with NFL teams, signaling that conferences cannot bypass court orders while ongoing reform debates like the Protect College Sports Act unfold.
Missouri star Mark Mitchell used the NCAA’s expanded five-year rule and a court-ordered transfer window to enter the transfer portal and commit to Kentucky, choosing the Wildcats for a championship-focused final season under coach Mark Pope. After discussions with his family and representation, he cited a fit with Kentucky’s system, the chance to compete for a title, and his versatility as a player who can contribute as a team-first leader in the SEC.
Kentucky landed Mark Mitchell, a versatile forward who previously played for Duke and Missouri, as a court ruling temporarily clears a path for a potential fifth season; his addition shores up the frontcourt and boosts coach Mark Pope's roster ahead of 2026-27, joining Milan Momcilovic and Malachi Moreno as Kentucky pursues a deep, Final Four-caliber roster pending Mitchell's eligibility amid ongoing NCAA lawsuits over five-year eligibility.
The Tenth Circuit granted the NCAA’s stay in Wisne v. NCAA, keeping most 2022 graduates from a fifth year of eligibility unless they already have temporary restraining orders or injunctions; some players with TROs may return, and the ruling is expected to spark more lawsuits as others seek similar relief before NFL-related roster crunches.
The Tenth Circuit granted the NCAA a stay on Colorado’s class-action fifth-year eligibility ruling, setting an expedited appeal. The injunction covers only the fifth-year decision and does not affect transfer rules or the House settlement’s roster limits and revenue-share cap; 2022 recruits who exhausted four years this spring are ineligible unless they have a TRO or injunction, while 16 Louisiana players remain eligible thanks to a TRO. The case stems from the NCAA’s move to an age-based eligibility model that starts this summer, with 2027 recruits being age-based only.
A federal court granted a temporary restraining order allowing 16 players, including former LSU edge Jack Pyburn, to return for the 2026-27 college football season with a fifth year of eligibility, potentially enabling NFL-affiliated players to join college rosters if released by NFL teams by Sept. 1. The TRO follows a separate Colorado injunction granting a fifth season to the 2022 class but does not address transfer rules or roster caps under the House settlement. The NCAA argues the Colorado ruling lacks authority to override the House terms, and the case awaits a Tenth Circuit stay ruling; attorneys Ryan Downton and Darren Heitner led the filing.
In Louisville, a hearing in Wells v. NCAA considered granting a fifth year of eligibility to the ’22 class. Mark Mitchell and other plaintiffs pressed for temporary and permanent relief to enter the transfer portal, arguing Colorado’s injunction is insufficient, while the NCAA asked for time to brief its side. Judge Brian Edwards pushed for a quick ruling, with written arguments due Aug. 18 and a decision expected by the end of the following week, underscoring disputes over retroactive rules, potential injuries to student‑athletes, and the path to immediate eligibility.
A Colorado federal court injunction temporarily allows 2026–27 eligibility for players affected by the NCAA’s age-based model, triggering a wave of state lawsuits and programs scrambling to add fifth-year players. The piece argues the NCAA should admit the rollout was flawed and immediately permit all 2022 high school graduates to compete, to preserve fair play and prevent midseason chaos, even as the organization continues to fight the rulings in court.
BYU’s bid to add center Jaxon Kohler is off after a judge clarified that the new five-in-five rule grants an extra year of eligibility but does not automatically widen transfer rights, meaning Kohler cannot join the Cougars for a fifth year; the ruling could still allow a return by BYU graduate center Keba Keita, while Richie Saunders remains unlikely to rejoin BYU due to his NBA path and injury status, leaving BYU to pursue other, potentially unconventional center options.
Following Colorado's ruling and an injunction against the NCAA, On3 Basketball's Joe Tipton tracks the top college basketball players who could pursue a fifth year of eligibility, focusing on those already in the transfer portal or expected to enter and weighing a return to college basketball against other options.