Judge clarifies NCAA eligibility order, which could blunt its impact on new '5 for 5' rule

Key Points:

• U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney clarified that her recent ruling granting a fifth year of college sports eligibility does not apply to football players who signed professional contracts this summer and then sought to return to college play.
• The ruling allows athletes who graduated high school in 2022 and were excluded from the NCAA's new five-season eligibility rule to play another year, but it does not change NCAA rules prohibiting players from returning to college after signing pro contracts.
• This clarification prevents potential disruptions to the upcoming college football season, where teams had been considering the return of players currently on professional rosters.
• The NCAA plans to appeal Sweeney's order, and teams are weighing the risk of reinstating players who might later be ruled ineligible if the decision is overturned.
• NCAA President Charlie Baker criticized the initial ruling as potentially chaotic and urged Congress to pass the Protect College Sports Act, which would provide legal protections for the NCAA regarding eligibility rules.