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Judge Clears Cole Hutson for Fifth Texas Season

8/8/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Judge granted eligibility, allowing Cole Hutson (54) to return for a fifth season at Texas.
Hutson sued the NCAA in Travis County on July 18 over the five-year rule and reached an agreement.
Undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, he attended Browns and Cowboys minicamps without signing.
Coach Steve Sarkisian said Hutson’s experience adds depth to an interior line that struggled last season.

History

Historical Context

The 2026 lawsuit by Cole Hutson challenging the NCAA’s five-year eligibility limit builds on a decade of antitrust battles that began with O’Bannon (2014) and culminated in the unanimous 9-0 Supreme Court ruling in NCAA v. Alston (2021), which struck down limits on education-related benefits for athletes generating roughly $1.5 billion annually. Those precedents pressure the NCAA to rethink roster rules nationwide.

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Story summary

Judge granted eligibility, allowing Cole Hutson (54) to return for a fifth season at Texas.
Hutson sued the NCAA in Travis County on July 18 over the five-year rule and reached an agreement.
Undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, he attended Browns and Cowboys minicamps without signing.
Coach Steve Sarkisian said Hutson’s experience adds depth to an interior line that struggled last season.

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