Jayden Fielding, once the reliable foot of Ohio State’s football team, is now at the center of a legal and athletic controversy that could let him play a fifth season of college football.
The court order that could grant a fifth year
A Colorado district judge, Charlotte Sweeney, issued a preliminary injunction on Friday that forces the NCAA to extend eligibility to every athlete who was part of the 2022 recruiting class, including Fielding, who exhausted his four‑year eligibility after the 2024 season.
The ruling stems from a June change that eliminated the traditional redshirt rule, allowing players who had already used up their athletic eligibility to petition for an extra year. The decision has sparked a wave of lawsuits across the country, with the NCAA promising an expedited appeal.
A career defined by highs and lows
During his tenure in Columbus, Fielding made 45 of 57 field‑goal attempts, a 78.9 % success rate, and his 38‑yard kick sealed Ohio State’s 34‑23 victory over Notre Dame in the 2025 national championship. Yet his legacy is also marked by missed opportunities, notably a 38‑yard miss against Michigan in 2024 and a 27‑yard miss in the 2025 Big Ten Championship.
He never converted a field goal beyond 50 yards, but a 57‑yard attempt at Ohio State’s pro day in March earned him a brief contract with the CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks, a stint that lasted only two weeks before he was released.
What’s next for the Buckeyes
Ohio State will enter the upcoming season with a completely new kicking corps. Transfer Connor Hawkins from Baylor and former Notre Dame specialist Marcello Diomede are slated to compete for the starting role, leaving Fielding as the sole Buckeye contemplating a return to college football.
Other scholarship seniors from last year’s roster, such as running back CJ Donaldson, have already signed NFL contracts, underscoring the rarity of Fielding’s situation.
The NCAA’s legal battle is far from over. While the injunction currently permits 2022 recruits to claim a fifth year, the organization plans to file an expedited appeal, arguing that the ruling oversteps its authority and threatens the structure of college athletics.