Can former Ohio State football kicker Jayden Fielding return for another season with the Buckeyes based on a recent court ruling?
Fielding, a former all-Big Ten selection and three-year starter for OSU, was "exploring" a fifth year of college eligibility, according to the company representing him (CJ Recruiting and NIL), which spoke to CBS Sports on Aug 1.
Fielding played his fourth college season at Ohio State last year, but a ruling from U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney in Denver on July 31 ruled that members of the high school class of 2022 who exhausted their fourth season of college eligibility this spring can apply for a fifth season in 2026-27.
However, on Aug. 2, the NCAA sent out a memo clarifying that all other eligibility restrictions
still apply, including those for players who sign professional contracts. In other words, any player who had signed a professional contract would be prohibited from returning to play in college.
Fielding, whose last college game was Ohio State's Cotton Bowl loss to Miami on Dec. 31, went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, but signed a Canadian Football League contract with the Ottawa Redbacks, according to a team release in May. The NCAA memo indicates that signing a professional contract makes Fielding ineligible to return to college football.
The Class of 2022 eligibility ruling won’t create an opening for players currently on NFL rosters to now return to college, according to the NCAA. Players who signed pro contracts are currently ineligible to return to college. pic.twitter.com/LcKiH3Aabu
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) August 2, 2026
After winning a national championship with the Buckeyes in the 2024-25 season, Fielding went 16-for-20 on field goals in the 2025 season and made all 56 extra-point tries. He had a 78.9% field goal completion rate in his college career.
The new ruling for the 2022 class comes at a time of high tension for the NCAA because the United States Congress is working to pass the Protect College Sports Act, a bill that aims to reform college sports at a federal level.
For some players, the ruling also conflicts with elements of the "five-for-five" rule the NCAA plans to enact for athletes in the fall of 2027, in which players are restricted to five years of eligibility within five years, eliminating redshirt seasons for simplicity. On Aug. 2, Judge Sweeney issued another court order to make clear the new ruling doesn't override current transfer rules, roster limits or revenue-sharing totals.
But the bottom line is, as the situation currently stands, it appears Fielding will not be back with the Buckeyes in 2026.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Can ex-OSU kicker Jayden Fielding return to college for a 5th season?
