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08/03 11:06 CDT Judge clarifies NCAA eligibility order, which could blunt its
impact on new '5 for 5' rule
Judge clarifies NCAA eligibility order, which could blunt its impact on new '5
for 5' rule
By EDDIE PELLS
AP National Writer
DENVER (AP) --- The judge who granted some athletes the right to play another
year in college issued a new order Sunday that makes clear that does not
include football players who signed pro contracts this summer then had a change
of heart.
U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney responded to an NCAA request for clarity
about her Friday ruling that granted a fifth year to athletes who graduated
high school in 2022 and were not included in the new NCAA rule that allows five
seasons of eligibility for Division I players.
She said the decision still stands. But the clarification said her ruling had
no impact on other NCAA rules, which would include its prohibition on players
signing pro contracts, then coming back to college.
The NCAA filed its intention to appeal the case later Sunday night.
The ruling, as first written, had the potential to upend the upcoming college
football season, where teams are starting camp planning on the "five for five"
rule to take effect beginning next fall.
Extending it to players this fall granted hundreds a chance to return to
school. In the direct aftermath of the decision, some media reports were
listing players on NFL and CFL rosters who were signaling they'd be open to
returning to school.
But that appears to be off the table after Sweeney's clarification that said it
was strictly about the players whose eligibility ended last school year. It did
not extend beyond that --- neither to rules regarding when athletes can enter
the transfer portal nor to elements of the landmark House lawsuit settlement,
which dictates how many players teams can put on rosters and how much schools
can pay them.
The rulings out of U.S. District Court in Denver figures to impact sports
differently. Football teams, for instance, have already started practice for
this season, while baseball doesn't start for a while.
In making decisions, teams figure to factor the NCAA's appeal of Sweeney's
order and whether to risk bringing back players who could then be declared
ineligible if her decision is overturned.
NCAA President Charlie Baker issued a statement after Sweeney's initial ruling
came out Friday, saying the ruling was potentially chaos-inducing and a reason
Congress needs to pass the Protect College Sports Act. That bill, being
considered in the Senate, includes lawsuit protection for the NCAA over
eligibility rules, the likes of which they are defending in several courts
around the country.
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AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports
