Just as college football teams prepare to open fall camp, another court ruling has thrown the NCAA into uncertainty.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a class-wide preliminary injunction requiring the NCAA to restore eligibility for athletes from the high school Class of 2022 who exhausted four seasons of eligibility following the 2025-26 academic year. The decision is the latest legal setback for the NCAA and could have immediate implications for Big 12 football programs still finalizing their rosters.
The ruling potentially opens the door for a wave of athletes to seek a fifth season of eligibility, leaving coaches and front offices across the country scrambling to determine who could return to college football just days before the start of preseason camp.
According to reports, one of the biggest questions is whether undrafted free agents from April’s NFL Draft could now explore returning to college instead of pursuing professional opportunities.
For Big 12 programs, the uncertainty couldn’t come at a worse time. Coaches believed their rosters were largely set entering August, but another influx of eligible players could reshape depth charts, scholarship decisions and transfer portal activity across the conference.
The decision is also another reminder of the NCAA’s ongoing legal struggles. Earlier Friday, dozens of college basketball players won injunctions allowing them to pursue another season of eligibility under similar circumstances, continuing a trend of courts repeatedly siding with athletes over the NCAA’s eligibility rules.
In response to the latest ruling, NCAA President Charlie Baker again urged Congress to pass the Protect College Sports Act, arguing that federal legislation is the only way to establish consistent national rules for college athletics. The SEC and Big Ten officially backed the bill on Friday night.
“Today’s rulings and the chaos they bring to college sports are exactly why it’s time to pass this bill,” Baker said.
Whether the NCAA appeals or issues a blanket waiver remains to be seen. Either way, the latest ruling adds another layer of uncertainty to an already chaotic offseason.
For the Big 12, the impact could be significant. Coaches thought they were preparing for Week 1. Instead, they’re once again preparing for another round of roster questions, eligibility decisions and potential player movement before a single game has been played.
