Memphis football is close to the start of its 2026 season, but does that mean the roster is set in stone?
Not exactly.
The NCAA's rollout of the "5 for 5" eligibility system has led to lawsuits from Class of 2022 players looking for a fifth season, and many of those players are now eligible to play in 2026.
"We are waiting for true legal advice," Memphis coach Charles Huff said Aug. 25. "We have a plan. If there's any opportunity for me and my staff to improve our roster, we're going to be aggressive with it."
The lawsuits have left rosters in flux across the college football world. UNLV, which will face Memphis in the season opener on Aug. 29 (9 p.m. CT, FOX) has multiple players who may or not be eligible depending on court rulings in the coming
days. There are players leaving NFL training camps to join college rosters, and multiple conferences are reportedly considering bans on letting those players return to schools in their conferences.
LSU is set to add two players, tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris, who played for new Tigers coach Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss before signing NFL contracts. Both players were granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA by a Louisiana judge.
"We're waiting for a little bit more stable legal advice before we start bringing kids in, calling kids and that type of deal," Huff said. "But we have a plan if we get the legal advice that says, 'This is a go.' If we can improve our roster, we want to do that."
Some teams have added players who played for them in 2025, but Memphis had only a few who were "true seniors" and would potentially qualify for another year of eligibility. Linebacker Jayden Flaker was one of those, but he transferred to New Mexico during summer practices.
There's a potential for whiplash, where some players have had their eligibility statuses reversed multiple times.
"We don't want to get so far in front of our skis that we do something that's going to either hinder us from a legal standpoint — NCAA or the judicial system — or we get a young man all fired up and ready to go and then a week later you've got to tell him he can't go," Huff said. "So we have a plan. We're kind of waiting for some solidified legal advice. But we've always got a plan."
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Charles Huff says Memphis football has plan if Class of 2022 players become eligible
