The NCAA has vowed to challenge a federal judge's ruling that grants an additional year of eligibility to student-athletes from the high school class of 2022.
In a letter to member schools, the NCAA's chief legal officer Scott Bearby called the decision "egregiously wrong," stating that Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court of Colorado lacks the authority to overrule the House v. NCAA settlement that imposed roster limits on college sports programs.
The NCAA claims that Judge Sweeney's decision to certify a nationwide class and grant sweeping injunctive relief with "virtually no evidence" will cause "chaos" in college sports and irreparably harm thousands of student-athletes already on campus. Bearby wrote that the NCAA intends to appeal the Colorado order and restore the status quo as soon as possible.
The ruling in Colorado was preceded by a Tennessee court granting a temporary injunction to Vanderbilt guard Jalen Washington and 18 other college basketball players to provide a fifth year of eligibility.
NCAA president Charlie Baker has called for Congress to move forward with passing the Protect College Sports Act, arguing that suddenly restoring eligibility to an entire class would cause "chaos." However, passing this bill would not affect Friday's court ruling as it doesn't address pending lawsuits.
The Big Ten and SEC have already approved a deal to support the Protect College Sports Act.
Several athletes, including former Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding, Georgia safety JaCorey Thomas, and Kentucky linebacker Alex Afari, are reportedly exploring the possibility of returning to college with renewed eligibility. These players had previously participated in minicamps with NFL teams in the spring after their eligibility had expired.
As the NCAA prepares to appeal the ruling, the fate of student-athletes who are considering returning to college remains uncertain.
Source: Yahoo Sports