Judge Orders NCAA to Grandfather Athletes Into Eligibility Model

Hamilton County, Ohio judge Chris Wagner issued an injunction on Thursday requiring the NCAA to grant a fifth year of eligibility to 24 athletes who graduated high school in 2022 and completed four collegiate seasons under the organization's new age-based eligibility model. The ruling marks the NCAA's first legal defeat over the recently passed policy and currently applies only to the 24 plaintiffs. However, the decision could open the door for thousands of similarly situated athletes to receive an additional year of college sports eligibility, and the NCAA retains the option to appeal.