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Appeals Court Sides With NCAA on Eligibility

The 10th Circuit ruled in favor of the NCAA in a lawsuit over eligibility for Class of 2022 wrestlers.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Wrestling

Photograph of an empty collegiate wrestling mat with a red and blue center field under bright arena lights, a distant referee silhouette at its edge.
A federal appeals court on November 6 sided with the NCAA, reversing a Colorado waiver and limiting athletes to five seasons within five years. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should college athletes who were already in school get an extra year of eligibility after rule changes?

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the NCAA on November 6, reversing a Colorado court waiver that had let Class of 2022 athletes compete one final time. The decision leaves Penn State wrestler Levi Haines ineligible for 2026-2027 unless he obtains eligibility through a new legal ruling.

Why it matters

The ruling settles, for now, a dispute over the NCAA's June change from a four-season, five-year limit to five seasons within five years. It affects athletes who argued they were unfairly treated by the rule change.

The ruling follows a Colorado court's July blanket waiver for Class of 2022 athletes, which the NCAA won on appeal in August. Haines won a 174-pound national title in Cleveland, and his future eligibility depends on a further legal ruling that has not yet occurred.

The players

NCAA

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the governing body that sets eligibility rules for college sports, including wrestling.

Cael Sanderson

Cael Sanderson is the Penn State wrestling head coach, a former Olympic gold medalist and one of the sport's most prominent coaches.

Levi Haines

Levi Haines is a Penn State wrestler who won a 174-pound national title in Cleveland and whose eligibility is now in question.

The details

The NCAA changed its rules in June, and a Colorado court granted a blanket waiver in July before that waiver was overturned on NCAA appeal in August. Plaintiffs appealed to the 10th Circuit, which heard arguments in mid-October and issued its ruling on November 6.

Timeline

  1. June 2025: NCAA changes eligibility rules from four seasons within five years to five seasons within five years.

  2. July 2025: Colorado court grants blanket waiver for Class of 2022 athletes.

  3. August 2025: NCAA wins appeal, overturning the Colorado waiver.

  4. October 20, 2025: Penn State coach Cael Sanderson discusses Haines' uncertain status at media day.

  5. November 6, 2025: 10th Circuit rules in favor of the NCAA.

Season Trajectory

The 10th Circuit ruling keeps the NCAA's June 2025 shift to five seasons within five years in force for the Class of 2022 cohort. It removes a Colorado waiver that had given those athletes one final season, reshaping rosters across college wrestling this season.

Penn State is expected to go with Mitchell Mesenbrink at 174 pounds, PJ Duke at 165 and Tyler Kasak at 157 for its opening dual. Haines is unavailable for those spots unless a new legal ruling restores his eligibility.

The takeaway

Athletes and fans should treat the 10th Circuit ruling as the controlling answer for now, since further eligibility relief would require a new court order. Watch how Penn State's lineup adjusts when the season opens on November 12.

What happens next

Penn State opens its season against Bloomsburg at Rec Hall on November 12 at 7 p.m. ET, streamed on B1G+.

Further reading

For more on college wrestling eligibility and rosters, see Wrestling.

Live Poll

Should college athletes who were already in school get an extra year of eligibility after rule changes?