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Judge Lifts NCAA Eligibility Ban, Allows Luis to Play LSU

8/26/2026

36 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

U.S. District Judge Ronald R. Johnson cleared RJ Luis Jr. to play for LSU in 2026-27.
The injunction temporarily blocks the NCAA from enforcing its eligibility ban on Luis.
Luis signed a two-way Utah Jazz contract and an Exhibit-10 Boston Celtics deal.
He played in NBA preseason games but never appeared in a regular-season or G-League contest.
The NCAA will appeal, a case that could set a new eligibility precedent.

History

Historical Context

The NCAA first allowed true freshmen to compete in varsity football during the 1972-73 season, ending a long ban on first-year players. Recent courts, such as the 2024 preliminary injunction for Diego Pavia, have again challenged NCAA eligibility limits, and the modern push for name, image, and likeness compensation since California’s 2019 Fair Pay to Play Act suggests a new nationwide revision may follow.

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Story summary

U.S. District Judge Ronald R. Johnson cleared RJ Luis Jr. to play for LSU in 2026-27.
The injunction temporarily blocks the NCAA from enforcing its eligibility ban on Luis.
Luis signed a two-way Utah Jazz contract and an Exhibit-10 Boston Celtics deal.
He played in NBA preseason games but never appeared in a regular-season or G-League contest.
The NCAA will appeal, a case that could set a new eligibility precedent.

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