Fri, August 28, 2026
Dallas judge prohibits NCAA and SEC from banning 41 athletes from returning to college sport for one more season
Through a 14-day Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), Dallas judge, Martin Hoffman, has prohibited the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) from banning 41 athletes, 3 of which are part of National Football League (NFL) rosters, from returning to college sport for another season.
The 3 athletes in question include Dallas Cowboy Jordan Hudson, Kansas City Chief’s Wesley Bissainthe, and Chief’s Omari Evans. Two Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) signees, Washington Mystics’ Christeen Iwuala and Golden State Valkyries’ Bailey Maupin, are also plaintiffs. These athletes cannot be banned by the SEC based on the fact that they have spent time on a professional sports roster, and the transfer portal has reopened for 1 week for this specific group as well.
Hoffman ruled: “As long as they would have been eligible to continue playing college sports in the following semester if they had a fifth year of eligibility, they are eligible today.”
In June, the NCAA updated its eligibility rules so that student-athletes can play 5 seasons during a 5-year period. Previously, athletes were only allowed to play for 4 years during a 5-year period. This refers to college sports in general, but in this specific dispute, it refers to college football and basketball players. However, the NCAA stated that this rule would not apply to outgoing seniors, explaining Hoffman’s ruling above. The SEC then introduced rules that would levy harsh punishments on schools that sign former professional athletes, such as a half-season coach suspension and significant fine.
Specially, the order states that the NCAA and SEC: “are hereby temporarily restrained and enjoined from NCAA Bylaw 12.6, or any other NCAA or SEC bylaw or rule, to preclude Plaintiffs from competing in NCAA Division I athletics during the 2026-2027 season on the basis that Plaintiffs have already competed in four seasons of competition.”
Ryan Downton, who represented the athletes, voiced: “The [leagues] can't come out and create a rule with immediate effect that has such draconian effect punishment that no school will take any of these players.”
Downton also told ESPN: “The SEC is singling out football…If you're a women's soccer player. No problem. Lacrosse player? No problem. It's only football and men's basketball [WNBA signees are plaintiffs too, as mentioned above]. Why is that? And why is that appropriate? Why is it appropriate for the SEC to discriminate against one group of student-athletes and not another?”
Ahmaad Moses, who played for Southern Methodist University’s football team last year but then underwent spinal surgery after the season and went undrafted, is also among the plaintiffs, but he did not sign a professional contract. The order allows him to play this fall, for now.
The order sets up another hearing on 11 September. “While the NCAA has lost the initial ruling in some cases, it has won subsequent legal stays in multiple states, putting some orders on pause,” as reported by The Athletic.
