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Former Oklahoma Sooners star linebacker Owen Heinecke may be a month out from the 2026 NFL Draft, but he isn't quite yet finished fighting against the NCAA for the ability to come back to OU for the 2026 season.
According to a report from On3 SoonerScoop's George Stoia III, Heinecke filed an injunction against the NCAA on Monday. He's seeking one more year of collegiate eligibility, after the NCAA has already denied him twice. Now, Heinecke is taking the next step, and taking the NCAA to court.
According to Stoia, the judge in Heinecke's case will be Thad Balkman, who is an Oklahoma alum. His legal counsel includes OU alum Michael Lauderdale and Woody Glass, who recently retired as OU's Chief of Staff for football. The emergency hearing for Heinecke's injunction will be in Cleveland County Courthouse on the morning of April 16th, which is one week before the NFL draft and two days before the OU Spring Game.
It's the latest twist in a long saga for Heinecke, who is being denied another season because he played 15 total minutes of lacrosse in three games at Ohio State in 2021. He then transferred to OU to play football, but he missed the entire 2022 season due to injury. After being a special-teamer in 2023 and 2024, Heinecke broke onto the scene at inside linebacker in 2025. Despite really only playing three seasons of college football, the NCAA isn't letting Heinecke compete in 2026.
Heinecke competed in the Senior Bowl, the NFL Scouting Combine, and OU's pro day, where he told the media he was "full steam ahead" on getting ready for the NFL. However, he's now taking legal action against the NCAA, similarly to Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.
While Heinecke's case isn't quite the same as Chambliss', he does run the risk of winning the injunction, but then seeing the NCAA turn around and fight that decision, in order to keep him from playing collegiately in 2026, which is where Chambliss' case currently stands. Heinecke brought up that possibility with the media after his pro day, saying that he couldn't afford to not be playing football somewhere (either at OU or in the NFL) this fall.
Heinecke also said that he has been thankful for the support that the Sooners have given him during this unique time. In that vein, Oklahoma athletics director Roger Denny released a short statement in support of Heinecke's pursuit of an extra year.
"OU fully supports Owen Heinecke and his pursuit of a fair opportunity to continue playing the game he loves," Denny wrote. "We'll stand firmly behind him as he works to do just that."
Heinecke registered 74 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, three sacks and a forced fumble last season for the Sooners. If he is able to return to Norman, he would further bolster the inside linebacker position for Oklahoma, along with returnee Kip Lewis and incoming transfer Cole Sullivan. With Reggie Powers III slated to start at the Cheetah spot, the middle level of the OU defense would be very strong is Heinecke can come back.
However, it still feels unlikely that Heinecke is permitted to return to the Sooners, and general manager Jim Nagy told the press in his pre-spring press conference that Oklahoma had to assume they weren't getting Heinecke back when they were building their roster for the 2026 season. Nagy also said that Oklahoma would keep fighting to get Heinecke back in Norman.
With one more month left until the NFL Draft, the end of the Heinecke eligibility saga is fast-approaching. Heinecke himself said that draft day is the deadline for trying to get an additional year in college. Clearly, both OU and Heinecke want him to be back in a Sooner uniform in 2026, so much so that they are willing to take legal action to get what they want and what they think is fair and right. While Heinecke should get drafted if he chooses to give up the fight, or if he loses in court, he's pulling out every move he can to try and get one more year at Oklahoma and help the Sooners make it back to the College Football Playoff.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Star Sooners LB files injunction against NCAA in fight for extra year
Continue reading...
According to a report from On3 SoonerScoop's George Stoia III, Heinecke filed an injunction against the NCAA on Monday. He's seeking one more year of collegiate eligibility, after the NCAA has already denied him twice. Now, Heinecke is taking the next step, and taking the NCAA to court.
According to Stoia, the judge in Heinecke's case will be Thad Balkman, who is an Oklahoma alum. His legal counsel includes OU alum Michael Lauderdale and Woody Glass, who recently retired as OU's Chief of Staff for football. The emergency hearing for Heinecke's injunction will be in Cleveland County Courthouse on the morning of April 16th, which is one week before the NFL draft and two days before the OU Spring Game.
It's the latest twist in a long saga for Heinecke, who is being denied another season because he played 15 total minutes of lacrosse in three games at Ohio State in 2021. He then transferred to OU to play football, but he missed the entire 2022 season due to injury. After being a special-teamer in 2023 and 2024, Heinecke broke onto the scene at inside linebacker in 2025. Despite really only playing three seasons of college football, the NCAA isn't letting Heinecke compete in 2026.
Heinecke competed in the Senior Bowl, the NFL Scouting Combine, and OU's pro day, where he told the media he was "full steam ahead" on getting ready for the NFL. However, he's now taking legal action against the NCAA, similarly to Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.
While Heinecke's case isn't quite the same as Chambliss', he does run the risk of winning the injunction, but then seeing the NCAA turn around and fight that decision, in order to keep him from playing collegiately in 2026, which is where Chambliss' case currently stands. Heinecke brought up that possibility with the media after his pro day, saying that he couldn't afford to not be playing football somewhere (either at OU or in the NFL) this fall.
Heinecke also said that he has been thankful for the support that the Sooners have given him during this unique time. In that vein, Oklahoma athletics director Roger Denny released a short statement in support of Heinecke's pursuit of an extra year.
"OU fully supports Owen Heinecke and his pursuit of a fair opportunity to continue playing the game he loves," Denny wrote. "We'll stand firmly behind him as he works to do just that."
Heinecke registered 74 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, three sacks and a forced fumble last season for the Sooners. If he is able to return to Norman, he would further bolster the inside linebacker position for Oklahoma, along with returnee Kip Lewis and incoming transfer Cole Sullivan. With Reggie Powers III slated to start at the Cheetah spot, the middle level of the OU defense would be very strong is Heinecke can come back.
However, it still feels unlikely that Heinecke is permitted to return to the Sooners, and general manager Jim Nagy told the press in his pre-spring press conference that Oklahoma had to assume they weren't getting Heinecke back when they were building their roster for the 2026 season. Nagy also said that Oklahoma would keep fighting to get Heinecke back in Norman.
With one more month left until the NFL Draft, the end of the Heinecke eligibility saga is fast-approaching. Heinecke himself said that draft day is the deadline for trying to get an additional year in college. Clearly, both OU and Heinecke want him to be back in a Sooner uniform in 2026, so much so that they are willing to take legal action to get what they want and what they think is fair and right. While Heinecke should get drafted if he chooses to give up the fight, or if he loses in court, he's pulling out every move he can to try and get one more year at Oklahoma and help the Sooners make it back to the College Football Playoff.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Star Sooners LB files injunction against NCAA in fight for extra year
Continue reading...
