Colorado Buffaloes defensive lineman Ezra Christensen is suing the NCAA for a fifth year of eligibility.
Late Wednesday night, a new report by Pete Nakos revealed Christensen filed a lawsuit in Boulder County Court against the organization after the NCAA denied his fifth-year waiver to play out the 2026 season. Christensen had his waiver denied after the organization adopted the age-based, five-year eligibility.
Christensen, who started his career at two-year San Diego Mesa College in 2022, transferred to Colorado this offseason following two seasons (23-24) at Fresno State and another at New Mexico State in 2025.
His lawyer, Darren Heitner, released the following statement on X regarding the NCAA’s decision:
The new age-based eligibility models grants up to a five years across five seasons; Christensen, having exhausted his eligibility under the previous model, arrived at Colorado seeking a waiver to play a fifth season.
With 50 days until kickoff, Christensen, understandably, needs a decision – and he’s got one. Like many players subject to the new 5-for-5 policy, Christensen and other fourth-year guys seeking a fifth season aren’t included in the new age-based policy, according to the official language of the rule.
Christensen’s personal story aside, we’re talking about a football player that received his maximum eligibility under the previous bylaws across three different institutions between the FBS and JUCO levels. “Committing” to Colorado as opposed to evaluating his pro prospects (like everyone else) always carried a risk.
It’s not for a lack of options, either. Christensen recorded 42 combined tackles, 6 sacks and forced a fumble last year with the Lobos. He’s got plenty of tape, and is certainly free to explore whatever options are available to him.
Not everyone gets a waiver, and it’s important the NCAA finally gets its arms around this issue with the new 5-for-5 rule and eliminates the majority circumstances for these lawsuits. The issue raised here is where we should draw the line, and if it’s not the 2025-26 seniors, then where? That line’s lost in the sand until a precedent is maintained.
