NCAA Eligibility Battle Rages: Appeals Court Pauses Fifth-Year for 'Class of 2022'

The chaotic offseason for college basketball athletes just got a new twist: a federal appeals court has temporarily halted a landmark ruling that would have granted thousands of 'Class of 2022 Athletes' an extra year of eligibility. On Friday, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals granted the NCAA request for a stay in the "Wisne v. NCAA" federal class action lawsuit, effectively pausing a preliminary injunction that had opened the door for these players to compete in the upcoming 2026-27 season. This legal rollercoaster began after the NCAA introduced its new "Five-Year Eligibility Rule" in June 2026, aimed at simplifying rules but controversially excluding student-athletes who began in 2022-23 and had already exhausted their four seasons by Spring 2026. The original preliminary injunction, issued by a Colorado federal judge in July, sided with players like Brock Wisne and Cade Tyson, arguing their exclusion was an arbitrary restriction that impacted their earning potential, including Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and newly introduced Revenue Sharing opportunities. While the NCAA now has a temporary reprieve in the federal case, this isn't the end of the legal challenges. Numerous state-level injunctions favoring athletes from the Class of 2022 remain active, leaving a patchwork of eligibility rules across the country and creating significant uncertainty for roster management ahead of the season. The ongoing battle highlights the complex intersection of athlete rights, the Transfer Portal, and the financial landscape reshaped by the "House v. NCAA Settlement", ensuring that the future of college athletics will continue to be decided as much in courtrooms as on the playing field.