Federal Court Grants Fifth Year of Eligibility to All NCAA Class of 2022 Athletes, Challenging New Rule

A federal court in Colorado issued a preliminary injunction, ruling that all NCAA Division I athletes from the high school class of 2022 are eligible for a fifth season in 2026-27. This decision directly contradicts the NCAA's recently implemented 'five-for-five' eligibility rule, which would have barred these athletes from an additional year of competition. The ruling, which follows a similar injunction for 19 basketball players in Tennessee, is expected to cause significant roster changes across college sports. In response, the Big Ten and SEC conferences have issued a joint statement supporting the 'Protect College Sports Act' in Congress, a bill designed to provide the NCAA with antitrust protection on eligibility issues.