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Judge blocks eligibility for new pro signees, adds fifth year

8/3/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Judge Charlotte Sweeney clarified that her order does not allow football players who signed professional contracts this summer to regain NCAA eligibility.
The ruling still grants a fifth year to athletes who graduated in 2022 and were excluded from the new five-season rule.
NCAA President Charlie Baker praised the decision, urged Congress to pass the Protect College Sports Act, and said the NCAA will appeal, which benefits plaintiff Jacob Manu.

History

Historical Context

Decades of antitrust challenges—starting with the 1984 NCAA v. Board of Regents TV-rights case and the 2014 O’Bannon lawsuit—culminated in the Supreme Court’s June 2021 decision in NCAA v. Alston, where Justice Neil Gorsuch allowed schools to offer up to $100,000 in education-related benefits. Judge Charlotte Sweeney’s 2024 ruling preserved limited eligibility rights, prompting Congress to consider the Protect College Sports Act.

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Story summary

Judge Charlotte Sweeney clarified that her order does not allow football players who signed professional contracts this summer to regain NCAA eligibility.
The ruling still grants a fifth year to athletes who graduated in 2022 and were excluded from the new five-season rule.
NCAA President Charlie Baker praised the decision, urged Congress to pass the Protect College Sports Act, and said the NCAA will appeal, which benefits plaintiff Jacob Manu.

1 / 2