https://x.com/NCAA_PR/status/2069483869540098542
The current “policy” is that those whose eligibility ended in 25-26 won’t be eligible to come back, but anyone who still has eligibility currently enrolled can use whichever model benefits them. We’ll wait on the initial salvo of lawsuits. Wouldn’t mind another year of Woolfolk personally. I don’t get the feeling Suder would be returning to Miami even if policy let him return to college, although he could certainly make more money in college than G-League.
I think this means Ipsaro will get a fifth year though as he can use the new model.
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I wonder how they finally handled the LDS missionary issue that was always a sticking point for BYU.
I know it’ll be totally chaotic, but I think the right move for the NCAA is to allow players to come back for a 5th year if they are eligible under the new guidelines. It’ll be a complete mess for sure, both for roster spots and NIL spending that’s already committed, but it seems like a pretty bad faith argument to say these guys shouldn’t be allowed to play one more year when everyone immediately before them and after them gets 5 years. I’m making a purely emotional argument which often isn’t how the legal one works out, but just seems like the best solution.
The '26 graduates had to spend their early years playing against extra years guys from Covid exemptions and now will be the last class to only get 4 years. Pretty bad shake for them.
I think you’re right and I’m doubtful of the NCAA’s ability to sway judges to agree with them.
Somewhat cynically though, it’s probably optional for the NCAA to move slow and let most players move on with their post-college lives before granting a waiver to minimize how many actually come back
Just due to timelines, I doubt any juries will be involved. Much like the shotgun eligibility lawsuit approach of the last few years, it would have to be an injunction ordered by a judge as the point is going to be moot in 4 months (and really players need to get enrolled in school and on rosters with teams in the next 2 months).
With Blues’ post above saying attorneys are already moving forward on the behalf of 50 players in 5+ states, someone is going to win injunctions and at that point, they are going to have to open the floodgates otherwise it’ll be unmanageable with some players and states allowing and others not.
Chris Weinke enrolled at Florida St when he was 25, and won the Heisman Trophy his senior year.
If I recall, he played pro baseball out of high school, and decided to try college football once his career fizzled out.
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Not fully age rule related but fits here as well as anywhere. I believe this will be the first ever basketball “draft and stash” where a player is drafted, the pro team retains the rights, and he plays in college. This is super common in sports like baseball and hockey, but feels totally weird in basketball given historical precedent.
https://x.com/LawMurrayTheNU/status/2070144980702941254
https://x.com/DraftExpress/status/2069978923996205239