Another NCAA court loss.
Monroe Indiana Circuit Court Judge Kara Krothe probably is not among the most favored judges in the eyes of the National Collegiate Athletic Association members. Judge Krothe granted a preliminary injunction that will allow dozens of former college student-athletes to play a fifth year. College student-athletes who enrolled in classes for the 2022-2023 season were not allowed to pursue a fifth year of college sports eligibility because in June, the NCAA adopted a new “five to play five” eligibility model allowing Division I athletes to compete for five full seasons within a five-year window. The judge saw things a bit differently and sided with the plaintiffs. The NCAA will appeal because the governing body of college sports wants to control “student-athletes” as much as the group can. The NCAA continues to fight a losing battle in courts.
“Under the plain terms of the 2026-27 NCAA Manual, they are eligible to compete, and the NCAA is breaching its contractual obligations by denying them that opportunity,” Krothe wrote. “Harm to the NCAA by virtue of this injunction is minimal or nonexistent. The NCAA regularly grants waivers allowing athletes five years to play sometimes for hundreds or thousands of athletes at time. This injunction covers less than one hundred athletes across a multitude of sports. Plaintiffs have secured roster spots. but will not receive scholarship aid or NIL payments until their eligibility is continued by court order. If relief is denied, they will lose their roster spots. College sports seasons are time-limited opportunities. Once lost, they cannot be restored even if plaintiffs later prevail on the merits.” The college poohbahs want their fiefdoms back. They want control of the “student-athletes” and have lost the narrative and there is no turning back.
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