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Offensive lineman Cole Hutson should be able to fully join the Texas Longhorns for a fifth season after a Friday court ruling that grants the entire class of 2022 a preliminary injunction to play a fifth season. The ruling was made by Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the US District Court of Colorado.
The injunction comes after the NCAA changed its eligibility rules to anage-based model in June. The NCAA's Division I Cabinet unanimously passed the 5-for-5 rule last month, but only applied it moving forward.
The 2022 class has been called the "forgotten class" because they were too young to receive an extra year of eligibility due to covid, but too old for the 5-for-5.
A group of 2022 athletes filed a class action lawsuit against the NCAA, fighting for extra eligibility for the new academic year while claiming the NCAA violated federal antitrust law. The NCAA argued applying the rule retroactively would "destabilize college sports."
Sweeney ultimately ruled in favor of the athletes, finding the harm significant enough to grant the injunction.
The decision applies to athletes who began playing collegiate sports in the 2022–2023 season, competed in NCAA Division I sports, and completed four years of eligibility as defined by the NCAA’s prior rules by the conclusion of the 2025–2026 season.
Hutson was granted a temporary restraining order last week by Judge Daniella Deseta Lyttleand and re-joined the Longhorns. He has another hearing scheduled for Aug. 10, also in front of Judge Lyttleand. That hearing is now probably a moot point after Judge Sweeney's ruling.
Cole Hutson has played in 48 games for Texas, making 23 starts. He played and started as a freshman and never utilized his redshirt. Hutson went undrafted during the NFL Draft. He was invited to mini-camp with the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys, but didn't catch on.
It is unclear whether players selected or signed by professional sports teams would have the opportunity to return to college, which could be another legal case down the line.
The NCAA said in a statement that the Protect College Sports Act needs "immediate passage" as the ruling and "the chaos they bring to college sports are exactly why it's time to pass this bill." The bill, which had been at a standstill between lawmakers and college sports leaders, received support from the Big Ten and SEC on Friday.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Ruling should clear way for OL Cole Hutson to return to Longhorns
Continue reading...
The injunction comes after the NCAA changed its eligibility rules to anage-based model in June. The NCAA's Division I Cabinet unanimously passed the 5-for-5 rule last month, but only applied it moving forward.
The 2022 class has been called the "forgotten class" because they were too young to receive an extra year of eligibility due to covid, but too old for the 5-for-5.
A group of 2022 athletes filed a class action lawsuit against the NCAA, fighting for extra eligibility for the new academic year while claiming the NCAA violated federal antitrust law. The NCAA argued applying the rule retroactively would "destabilize college sports."
Sweeney ultimately ruled in favor of the athletes, finding the harm significant enough to grant the injunction.
The decision applies to athletes who began playing collegiate sports in the 2022–2023 season, competed in NCAA Division I sports, and completed four years of eligibility as defined by the NCAA’s prior rules by the conclusion of the 2025–2026 season.
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Hutson was granted a temporary restraining order last week by Judge Daniella Deseta Lyttleand and re-joined the Longhorns. He has another hearing scheduled for Aug. 10, also in front of Judge Lyttleand. That hearing is now probably a moot point after Judge Sweeney's ruling.
Cole Hutson has played in 48 games for Texas, making 23 starts. He played and started as a freshman and never utilized his redshirt. Hutson went undrafted during the NFL Draft. He was invited to mini-camp with the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys, but didn't catch on.
You must be registered for see images attach
It is unclear whether players selected or signed by professional sports teams would have the opportunity to return to college, which could be another legal case down the line.
The NCAA said in a statement that the Protect College Sports Act needs "immediate passage" as the ruling and "the chaos they bring to college sports are exactly why it's time to pass this bill." The bill, which had been at a standstill between lawmakers and college sports leaders, received support from the Big Ten and SEC on Friday.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Ruling should clear way for OL Cole Hutson to return to Longhorns
Continue reading...
