Ohio governor signs order granting Class of 2022 athletes a fifth year of eligibility
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued an executive order directing Ohio colleges to permit athletes from the Class of 2022 to compete during the 2026-27 academic year, even if those athletes have exhausted their NCAA eligibility. The order bars Ohio institutions from enforcing the NCAA's eligibility restrictions and sets its own criteria: athletes must be within five years of their 19th birthday or five years of their college enrollment date, and must not have played in a professional league such as the NFL, NBA, or WNBA. The NCAA responded swiftly, with president Charlie Baker arguing that a state governor has no authority over the association's eligibility rules and calling on Congress to pass the Protect College Sports Act. Questions about the order's legal enforceability surfaced immediately, with at least one sports law scholar drawing comparisons to early state NIL laws that were also doubted before taking effect.
principles of fairness require the Class of 2022 student-athletes be given a fifth year to compete, just like the classes that came before and after them, and against whom they competed throughout their college careers.
Why it matters
For coaches: Coaches at Ohio institutions need to monitor whether the order survives legal challenges before making roster decisions based on it.
For athletes: College athletes from the Class of 2022 in Ohio may gain a fifth year of competition, though the order's legal standing remains uncertain.
For collectives: Collectives and NIL stakeholders should watch how expanded eligibility in Ohio could affect roster construction and deal structures for returning athletes.
Read the full story at On3 NIL
Sources
- On3 NIL · Nick Schultz: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signs executive order to grant Class of 2022 athletes 5th year of eligibility
- Front Office Sports · Amanda Christovich: Ohio Gov. Issues Executive Order Challenging NCAA Eligibility Policy