10th Circuit Court Blocks NCAA's Fifth-Year Eligibility for Class of 2022 Athletes

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Several weeks ago a Colorado judge issued an order to the NCAA to declare all Class of 2022 student-athletes eligible for the 2026 college season. But before college football turns into “the wild west,” there’s been yet another change.

According to On3, the Tenth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has granted the NCAA a stay in the fifth-year eligibility lawsuit. An expedited appeal hearing is set.

“Class of 2022 athletes who exhausted four years of eligibility this past spring are now ineligible unless they have their own temporary restraining order or injunction. The 16 football players named in a Louisiana case are still eligible because they were granted a temporary restraining order,” On3’s Pete Nakos wrote.

“The current Colorado injunction only granted athletes in the class a fifth year, which is now pending until the appeal is heard. It did not enjoin transfer rules, roster limits or rev-share caps – part of the House settlement agreement. The injunction was not intended and does not enjoin any provisions of the House settlement and the court notably did not enjoin the operation of the transfer rules.”

Chaos in the College Ranks

Fans immediately took to X to ask all kinds of questions as to how this is going to affect their favorite teams and players:

“Mark Mitchell is having his own injunction right? So that’s means now we just get past the SEC?” one user asked.

“Does this mean Denzel Aberdeen is now *temporarily* ineligible? And Mark Mitchell could become eligible depending on the case today?” wrote another.

“So all players lose their 5th year? As of now?” a third wondered.

“Alex Afari now not eligible. State courts decision now will decide Kentucky players status.”

“Jaxon Kohler is still eligible since he was part of the California injunction. More lawsuits and appeals in the coming months as the NCAA and fifth-year players continue to battle.”

Once again, college football is being upended by the courts rather than hard rules from the NCAA itself. This is likely to continue until we get some actual legislation that restricts college sports more rigorously.

But it doesn’t look like any such legislation is going to reach the President’s desk before the start of the 2026 season.

Buckle up: This might be the strangest season of college football ever.

This story was originally published by The Spun on Aug 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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