College basketball eligibility: What to know about latest rulings

A Season of Uncertainty

The college basketball offseason has never been more chaotic. With rosters normally set and gelling by this point, the issue of eligibility has instead dominated headlines as athletes from the high school class of 2022 sue the NCAA for the right to play under its new "five in five" rules.

On Friday, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals granted the NCAA a stay in the Wisne ruling, a federal order in Colorado that had allowed all 2022 high school graduates a blanket waiver to return for a fifth season. The stay is temporary as the NCAA appeals the original decision, and it is just one of many class action and antitrust lawsuits the organization faces at both federal and state levels.

The uncertainty has kept rosters in flux, with players, coaches, programs, and conferences scrambling to understand who can and cannot hold a roster spot—whether for returnees or transfers. With just over two months until the 2026-27 season tips, the question remains: will there be an answer by then?

How Did We Get Here?

Eligibility disputes are not new, with players taking the NCAA to court for years over the chance to play additional seasons. In June, the NCAA announced a five-year eligibility window set to take effect for every sport in the upcoming season. Under this policy, a player would have a five-year window from enrollment—beginning no later than the semester after their 19th birthday—within which to compete. It is a continuous clock designed to eliminate most redshirts and waivers.

However, the current lawsuits stem from the NCAA's decision to exclude the high school class of 2022 from eligibility under the new rule. That exclusion has sparked a barrage of litigation, with athletes and their advocates arguing the policy unfairly blocks a generation of players.

The Wisne Stay and Its Ripple Effects

The Tenth Circuit's stay in the Wisne case was a significant win for the NCAA, but it has far from settled the matter. The stay paused a lower-court ruling that had granted blanket eligibility to 2022 graduates, but the underlying appeal continues. As reported by both ABC7 Los Angeles and ESPN, the stay has directly impacted players who had been cleared or were seeking clearance.

Mark Mitchell entered the transfer portal after a judge in Kentucky granted him a temporary injunction, while Kenny Noland (committed to Michigan) and Amarri Monroe (committed to Syracuse) are among those affected by the stay. Jaxon Kohler committed to BYU after a judge in California cleared him and others, including Donovan Dent, Skyy Clark, Tre Holloman, and Xaivian Lee.

Meanwhile, some players have found their path through separate state cases. AJ Storr, who averaged 15.5 points per game at Ole Miss last season, is eligible to play at UNLV due to a ruling in Tennessee. Darrion Williams, who spent two seasons at Texas Tech and led the Red Raiders to the Elite Eight in 2025 before playing at NC State last season, has his eligibility affirmed by a Texas lawsuit. Malik Reneau, who averaged nearly 19 points per game last year, could return to Miami pending the outcome of a case in South Carolina.

A Mixed Record in the Courts

The NCAA has not been without victories. It prevailed in the Colorado stay and also won a similar decision in an Ohio case. But the overall landscape remains hostile to the organization. Attorney Ryan Downton told ESPN that at the trial court level, close to a dozen courts have looked at this issue and only one has sided with the NCAA. A prominent NIL attorney echoed the sentiment, saying, "I think the NCAA is trapped."

One of the more unusual developments came from a Louisiana ruling that opened the door for multiple athletes, including players currently in NFL training camps, to enter the portal and play next season. This ruling, as covered by ESPN and ABC7, has expanded the scope of who might be eligible, adding another layer of complexity.

Individual Cases Highlight the Stakes

Several high-profile players have become symbols of the uncertainty. Denzel Aberdeen helped lead Florida to the 2025 national title before transferring to Kentucky for his fourth season. Coach Todd Golden said the Gators would back Aberdeen in a state lawsuit for a fifth year, illustrating how programs are navigating the legal chaos.

Seth Trimble committed to Louisville under the waiver, played in the NBA summer league with the Washington Wizards, and never signed a professional contract. His case, like many others, underscores the precarious position of players trying to plan their futures.

Donovan Atwell, who averaged 13.5 points per game and shot 46% from three-point range last season, was looking to return to Texas Tech for a fifth season. His status, like so many others, now hangs in the balance depending on the outcome of various appeals.

Looking Ahead

A flurry of state cases will persist regardless of whether the NCAA wins its appeal in the Colorado federal case, according to reports from both ESPN and ABC7. The legal battles are likely to continue well into the season, and the NCAA has indicated more rulings are on the way.

For now, players, coaches, and fans are left waiting. The NCAA's five-year rule was meant to bring clarity, but the court battles have created anything but. As the season approaches, the only certainty is that the legal landscape will keep shifting, and rosters will remain in flux until the courts—or the NCAA—provide a definitive answer.