DII and DIII Athletes Fight to Keep NCAA Lawsuit

Division II and III athletes are urging a federal judge in Colorado to reject the NCAA's recent motion to dismiss.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Track & Field

DII and DIII Athletes Fight to Keep NCAA Lawsuit

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Student-athletes from Division II and Division III are pushing back against an NCAA request to dismiss their ongoing class action lawsuit. The plaintiffs are currently seeking an additional fifth season of athletic eligibility.

Why it matters

The outcome of this motion could determine the future of competition eligibility rules for thousands of collegiate athletes. At its core, the lawsuit challenges current NCAA restrictions on athletic participation duration.

Plaintiffs are officially seeking a fifth season of athletic competition eligibility. This filing contests the NCAA motion to dismiss the class action lawsuit filed by Division II and Division III student-athletes.

The players

NCAA

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the governing body responsible for organizing the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States.

Division II and Division III athletes

These student-athletes represent the group of plaintiffs currently seeking expanded eligibility rules within the collegiate sports system.

The details

In a formal response filed in Colorado federal court, plaintiffs argued that the NCAA is relying on legal justifications that were previously dismissed in other litigation. The athletes contend that these arguments should not be permitted to halt their current case.

October 20, 2026: Athletes requested the judge deny the motion to dismiss.

Season Trajectory

This legal challenge could fundamentally alter the landscape of collegiate competition by establishing new precedents for how long student-athletes can remain eligible. It shifts the focus from traditional four-year cycles toward a broader definition of athletic participation longevity.

Should the court rule in favor of the athletes, collegiate rosters across Division II and Division III could see a significant increase in veteran players returning for an extra season. This potential change in eligibility would disrupt standard roster management and scholarship allocation for athletic departments.

The takeaway

The ongoing legal battle highlights a significant push to extend the duration of collegiate athletic careers beyond the traditional four-year framework. Athletes and program administrators should monitor court proceedings to understand potential shifts in participation rules.