A U.S. District Court judge in Colorado issued an injunction on Friday that forces the NCAA to extend eligibility for the entire 2022 high school class who exhausted their athletic eligibility during the 2025‑26 academic year.
A Legal Shift for College Athletics
The ruling grants a fifth year of competition to any athlete from that cohort who completed four seasons without redshirting, making them eligible for the 2026‑27 season.
Although the decision applies across sports, its immediate effect is most visible in basketball, where a sizable group of players meet the criteria, while only a limited number of football programs are expected to feel the ripple.
Because the newly eligible athletes will not be counted against the standard scholarship caps — 105 for football and 15 for basketball — schools can add them without immediately inflating roster limits.
Nevertheless, many institutions may need to find additional funding to cover the scholarships and any compensation required for these extra roster spots.
At the University of Kansas, the football staff has identified two former players who qualify under the injunction, including Emmanuel Henderson Jr., who was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks after receiving a $273,192 signing bonus.
Henderson’s professional trajectory and the magnitude of his bonus make a return to college unlikely, and the university must balance his eligibility status with the broader financial considerations of adding extra scholarships.