Eligibility Extension Opens Door for Fifth-Year Players
A U.S. District Judge has issued a class‑wide preliminary injunction that grants the 2022 NCAA cohort an extra year of athletic eligibility, effectively allowing them to remain in college for a fifth season.
The decision comes as the NCAA had previously adopted new eligibility rules in June that would have barred the class of 2022 from seeking a fifth year, a move that would have applied to any athlete who had already signed a professional contract.
Under the new framework, athletes who have inked exhibition or summer‑league deals may still pursue a fifth year, provided they file their intent to enter the transfer portal before the portal’s deadline.
SMU is now weighing the possibility of re‑adding senior guard B.J. Edwards, who last season posted a career‑high 12.7 points per game before a February ankle injury sidelined him. He shot 47 percent from the field and 37 percent from three‑point range prior to the injury, helping the Mustangs finish the regular season at 19‑8 before slipping to 20‑14 overall.
The Mustangs entered the Midwest Region First Four, falling 1‑6 in their final seven games and ultimately losing to No. 11 Miami of Ohio in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
SMU currently has 14 of 15 scholarship spots filled, leaving a single vacancy that could be utilized if Edwards decides to return, a move that would bolster the backcourt depth heading into the next campaign.
Transfer guard Kyla Deck, who arrived from North Texas and averaged 10 points per game while starting 13 contests before a season‑ending injury, has publicly expressed interest in returning to the program, adding another layer of intrigue to the Mustangs’ roster planning.
No other scholarship players have announced intentions to utilize the fifth‑year option as of now, leaving the coaching staff to balance scholarship allocation, potential portal additions, and the chemistry of a squad that could feature both returning veterans and new acquisitions.