Colorado judge orders NCAA to reinstate fifth year of eligibility for 2022 Division I athletes

A Colorado federal judge, Charlotte Sweeney, issued a class-wide preliminary injunction on Friday that requires the NCAA to restore a fifth season of eligibility to every Division I athlete who entered college sports in the 2022-23 academic year and finished four years under the previous rules. The court’s order, reported by Boise State associate professor Sam Ehrlich, stems from a class-action suit brought by 11 athletes, among them Minnesota basketball player Cade Tyson, contesting the NCAA’s newly adopted five-year eligibility framework that eliminates redshirts and waivers.

NCAA president Charlie Baker responded by opposing the decision and calling for congressional action on the Protect College Sports Act, warning that a blanket restoration would create chaos in college athletics. The ruling coincides with a Tennessee court’s temporary injunction for Vanderbilt guard Jalen Washington and 18 other basketball players, which also prevents the NCAA from restricting transfers. As a result, thousands of student-athletes across football and basketball may now seek a fifth year, though many programs have already set rosters and budgets for the upcoming season, potentially limiting available spots. The Big Ten and SEC have voiced support for the Protect College Sports Act following the rulings.