Four college football players in North Carolina sued the NCAA for an additional season of eligibility, a song and dance the NCAA has seen before, but this time, the athletes lost. A judge this week ruled the players’ evidence was “not sufficient” and denied a preliminary injunction.
According to ESPN, former Duke student-athletes Ryan Smith, Tre’Shon Devones and Cam Bergeron were a part of the suit, as well as University of North Carolina’s J.J. Jones.
The players argued they should be given an additional year of eligibility because they saw very little field time due to “injuries, ailments and personal difficulties.” They estimate this lack of playing time resulted in a loss of potential earnings between $100,000 and $500,000 from NIL.
Related: Rutgers Recruit Sues NCAA Over Five-Year Rule and $500K NIL Deal
ESPN reported that “Smith and Devones had competed in five seasons, while Bergeron and Jones participated in four seasons across a four-year period.” Current NCAA rules allow players to compete in four seasons within a five-year window.
While Judge Matthew Houston was not sympathetic to the athletes’ case, many other stakeholders in college sports are lining up to see what changes the NCAA may bring to student-athlete eligibility. Two other football players have recently sued the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility: Diego Pavia and Jett Elad, with one case being granted and one still moving through the system.
Even some college basketball student-athletes who have played for four years are entering the transfer portal in case the eligibility rules shift. The theory behind this move is that with the fate of the House v. NCAA settlement hanging in the balance, the NCAA may transition to a five-year eligibility model instead of four.
Several well-known college stars took to social media to announce their decisions. With Zeke Mayo of Kansas posting, “Due to the pending NCAA rules, I have been advised to enter my name into the transfer portal. I am still focused on pursuing professional options.”
For the four North Carolina student-athletes, pursuing professional options is likely their only remaining choice if they wish to continue competing.
