Clemson WR Tristan Smith granted injunction against NCAA, eligible for 2026 season

Key Points:

• Clemson wide receiver Tristan Smith was granted a temporary injunction by a South Carolina court, making him eligible to play in the 2026 college football season after the NCAA denied his waiver for a fifth year of eligibility.
• Smith, who transferred from Southeast Missouri State and had 24 catches for 239 yards and a touchdown last season, sued the NCAA in January seeking an additional year of eligibility.
• The court ruling referenced a similar recent injunction granted to Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, highlighting the potential irreparable harm to athletes denied extra eligibility, including lost benefits and the inability to make informed decisions about entering the NFL Supplemental Draft.
• Smith’s argument centers on the NCAA’s inconsistent treatment of junior college players, noting that other players in his class received an extra year without counting JUCO time, which his attorney called arbitrary and capricious.
• Without the injunction, Smith was expected to enter the NFL supplemental draft, but the court ordered the NCAA to immediately declare him eligible for the 2026-2027 season.