A federal judge has issued a preliminary ruling that could allow college athletes from the high school Class of 2022 to compete for a fifth season during the 2026-27 school year, creating another major shakeup in college athletics.
The decision temporarily blocks the NCAA from enforcing eligibility limits against athletes who began their college careers in 2022 and exhausted their eligibility after the 2025-26 season. If the ruling stands, affected athletes would be eligible to return to their schools or enter the transfer portal for another season.
The NCAA plans to appeal the ruling, but for now schools across the country are evaluating how the decision could impact their rosters just weeks before the fall sports season begins. The court later clarified the order does not allow athletes who have already signed professional contracts to return to college competition.
