Multiple first-year NFL players win TRO for fifth-year of college football

Key Points:

• A temporary restraining order has been granted to three former Ole Miss starters and 30 other NCAA athletes, allowing them to return to college for an additional season despite entering the NFL draft.
• Sixteen football players involved in the lawsuit include three currently on NFL 90-man rosters; if cut during roster reductions to 53 players, they can return to college football.
• The case challenges the NCAA's refusal to apply its new five-year eligibility rule retroactively, highlighting ongoing legal battles over athletes' rights to earn money from their name, image, and likeness.
• Schools are preparing to recruit these players for the 2026 season, creating new opportunities but also complex decisions for athletes weighing NFL practice squad positions against returning to college.
• This situation marks a significant shift as players gain more agency in their career choices, navigating risks and benefits previously unavailable due to NCAA restrictions on athlete compensation and eligibility.