The NCAA has secured a temporary reprieve in an Ohio state appeals court regarding an injunction that would have allowed college basketball players to compete for a fifth year. The First District Court of Appeals issued an order on Monday, stating that the sports organization presented a substantial case on the merits and demonstrated it would face irreparable harm without a stay while the case is appealed.
This development marks a temporary victory for the NCAA, which contends that the plaintiffs have already exhausted their eligibility. The dispute centers on new NCAA rules set to begin with the 2026-27 season. These rules permit student-athletes to play for up to five seasons within an age-based five-year period, with fewer exceptions than the previous system. Under the old rules, student-athletes could play four seasons within five years and had a process to request waivers for extended eligibility in specific situations.
Filip Borovicanin and other players initiated a lawsuit against the NCAA, asserting that the new age-based eligibility rules unfairly exclude the high school graduating class of 2022, thereby violating the organization’s own bylaws. Last month, an Ohio judge granted an injunction in favor of the players, which would have allowed them to compete for a fifth year.
The NCAA subsequently sought a stay of that court order pending an appeal. The organization argued that the plaintiffs had already used their full eligibility period under the NCAA rules applicable during their playing years. Furthermore, the NCAA contended that the injunction hindered its capacity to uniformly enforce its rules across its numerous member institutions. In a statement issued Monday, the NCAA expressed appreciation for the appeals court’s recognition of the harm caused by the injunction and the substantial arguments presented for reversal, indicating an anticipation of fully arguing the case’s merits in the future.
The case is identified as Borovicanin v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, Ohio Ct. App., No. C-2600335, with the entry granting the motion to stay dated August 17, 2026.
