College football players that could return in 2026 amid NCAA eligibility injunction

Key Points:

• A federal judge in Colorado issued a preliminary injunction allowing certain 2022 college football players who exhausted eligibility under the NCAA's old rules to return for the 2026 season, challenging the NCAA's new age-based eligibility model.
• Players must generally return to their 2025 school, cannot transfer freely, and those who signed professional contracts are ineligible, though rookie minicamp participation alone does not disqualify them.
• Several notable players from Power Five programs, including Florida State QB Thomas Castellanos, Texas OL Cole Hutson, and Arizona State S Myles Rowser, have expressed interest or are considered viable candidates to return under the ruling.
• Schools face roster challenges as many have already finalized their 2026 lineups, and the NCAA plans to appeal the injunction, creating uncertainty about the players' eligibility status moving forward.
• The ruling has prompted a scramble among programs to evaluate returning players, with some positions like defensive line at Virginia and secondary at TCU potentially benefiting from experienced returnees.