Student-athletes who exhausted their collegiate eligibility and graduated high school in 2022 were granted a class-wide preliminary injunction to play a fifth season.
The decision was made by Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court in Colorado on Friday.
On June 23, the NCAA approved a new rule for college eligibility.
“The Division I Cabinet on Tuesday unanimously approved 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,” the NCAA stated on June 23. “The new rule streamlines a significant portion of the Division I rule book by eliminating season-of-competition limits,
sport-specific eligibility and redshirt rules, and eligibility extension waivers.”
The NCAA's new eligibility rules will begin with the 2026-27 academic year. The NCAA also states that when referring to the new eligibility model as the 5-for-5 rule is not accurate.
"Under the new Division I age-based eligibility rule, student-athletes who meet all eligibility requirements and enter college no later than the academic year after their 19th birthday generally will have up to five years of eligibility," the NCAA states. "While some have referred to this as the NCAA “5 for 5” rule, that is not accurate. The age-based rule actually centers on a student-athlete’s age and when the student enrolls full time in college, and it does not guarantee five years for all student-athletes, particularly those who delay enrollment.
"The previous rules included several elements that required more tracking for student-athletes and their schools, including athletics redshirts, delayed enrollment and other sport-specific rules, seasons of competition, and waiver opportunities. The new age-based rule replaces those variables with one consistent eligibility period."
A Colorado judge ruled that college athletes who graduated high school in 2022 and exhausted eligibility under old rules should get an extra season. https://t.co/Fvs9AYfg1T
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) August 1, 2026
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Judge grants fifth year of NCAA eligibility to class of 2022 athletes
