A day after Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued an executive order declaring "Class of 2022" student-athletes at Ohio public colleges and universities eligible, the Ohio Supreme Court has stayed the Ohio Court of Appeals decision, thereby restoring the injunctive relief given to players in theBorovicanin vs. NCAAcase.
This is the case involving several athletes, including Cincinnati Bearcats guard MJ Collinsand Xavier forward Filip Borovicanin, who have seen their eligibility get tossed back and forth like an intense game in the Big 12 or Big East.
The Ohio Supreme Court ordered the parties to file simultaneous, supplemental briefs by 5 p.m. on Oct. 19, that address the effect of the governor’s October 13 executive order on this action.
Both UC and Xavier are coming off exhibition wins at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason at the CareSource Invitational. The Bearcats downed Ohio Stateand played without Collins, while the Musketeers defeated Daytonand played without Borovicanin.
Governor DeWine's order applied to players at Ohio colleges and universities, but this stay applies to all of the student-athletes attached to the case. Evan Mahaffey from Moeller High School and Akron is the brother of UC Bearcat Eric Mahaffey and is covered (for now) under the DeWine executive order.
Among the other players, Keyshawn Hall is from Cleveland, but has played at UNLV, George Mason, UCF and Auburn. He would be included in this current stay, making the players in the case eligible.
Why are players fighting NCAA over eligibility?
The NCAA started the "five for five" rule in late June. It was described as a sweeping overhaul of eligibility rules for student-athletes, permitting Division I student-athletes up to five years of eligibility if they enroll in college no later than the academic year after their 19th birthday.
However, student-athletes who used up their eligibility at the end of the 2025-26 season under previous rules were not included (the Class of 2022).
That began a slew of court filings in various states, with student-athletes scrambling for a fifth season.
Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Wagnerprovided injunctive relief on July 9, allowing Collins, Borovicanin, and others to be eligible. That was later suspended and on Oct. 2, the Ohio First District Court of Appeals again ruled the players in the case ineligible.
What we know of NCAA players in Ohio case
- Governor DeWine's order applies to those in school in Ohio.
- The stay makes those in the Borovicanin vs. NCAA case eligible.
- The Ohio Supreme Court shall review the effect of DeWine's executive order with briefs no longer than 15 pages to be filed by 5 p.m. Oct. 19.
- Xavier has an exhibition at Tennessee Oct. 15.
- UC has an exhibition vs. Illinois at Fifth Third Arena, Oct. 17 at 5 p.m.
- Xavier has one more exhibition Oct. 23 at Cintas Center vs. Kent State, then begins the season Nov. 2 vs. Mount St. Mary's.
- UC has one more exhibition vs. Oakland Oct. 27 at Fifth Third Arena, then starts the season Nov. 2 vs. American.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio Supreme Court to rule on DeWine order for UC, XU players
