Colorado judge immediately grants extra year of eligibility to NCAA athletes who just graduated

Key Points:

• A U.S. District Court judge in Colorado granted a class-wide preliminary injunction requiring the NCAA to allow athletes from the high school class of 2022 who exhausted four seasons of eligibility this spring to play a fifth season, opening the transfer portal from August 3 to August 10.
• The ruling challenges the NCAA's new five-for-five eligibility model, which allows athletes five years to play five seasons, and follows similar legal cases in Ohio and California that seek to extend eligibility for college athletes.
• The NCAA strongly condemned the ruling, calling it "egregiously wrong," and plans to file an expedited appeal to restore the original eligibility rules and protect current student-athletes' opportunities.
• The decision could create roster and budget chaos for college teams, as many have already finalized their 2026-27 rosters, though some programs with roster needs may benefit from returning players.
• Several notable players, including former NBA draftees and transfer athletes, could potentially return for an additional college season, but many may opt to continue professional careers, adding uncertainty to the impact of the ruling.