A judge who allowed the right to play another year of college sports for some athletes whose eligibility expired in the 2025 school year issued a new order that makes clear that it does not apply to football players who signed professional contracts this summer but later changed their minds. 

According to The Associated Press, U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney responded to the NCAA’s request for clarity about her recent ruling that permitted a fifth year to athletes who graduated from high school in 2022 and were not included in the new NCAA rule that allows five seasons of eligibility for Division I athletes. 

U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney’s ruling potentially could have altered the upcoming college football season, where teams are starting camp planning under the  “five for five” rule, a Division 1 eligibility model that allows student-athletes five years of eligibility to play up to five seasons of competition, to take effect beginning next fall.

RELATED: NCAA approves 5-for-5 eligibility model for Division I athletes

NCAA releases statement on judge’s ruling

NCAA President Charlie Baker issued a statement, obtained by The Associated Press, following Judge Charlotte Sweeney’s initial ruling on July 31, sharing that the ruling was possibly “chaos-inducing” and a justification for Congress to pass the Protect College Sports Act. 

The AP reported that the legislation, being considered in the Senate, includes lawsuit protection for the NCAA over eligibility rules, the likes of which they defended in several courts nationwide. 

 

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