Judge Grants 5th Season to Class of 2022 Athletes

U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney's ruling will be appealed by the NCAA, which argues it undercuts the Age-Based Eligibility Model scheduled to begin with athletes enrolling in fall 2027. While the NCAA builds its appeal, the transfer portal will be opened in college basketball from August 3-10 for newly eligible athletes.

The decision could cause roster chaos across the country, potentially allowing undrafted NFL or NBA players to return to college for a fifth year. Judge Sweeney stated the players 'will suffer irreparable harm without' the injunction, rejecting the NCAA's argument about retroactive application creating 'roster chaos.' NCAA President Charlie Baker emphasized the need for congressional legislation on eligibility issues. The Colorado ruling follows a Tennessee court decision granting Jalen Washington and 18 other basketball players a fifth season, but applies more broadly to all Division I players who began college in 2022-23. fishroad-app.com