Wiggins Files Suit Seeking Gonzaga Eligibility

Former Florida State guard Chauncey Wiggins is seeking immediate eligibility for the 2026-27 season through a Spokane County lawsuit against the NCAA.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Basketball

Wiggins Files Suit Seeking Gonzaga Eligibility

Live Poll

Should college athletes be allowed to play while eligibility lawsuits are pending?

Chauncey Wiggins filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in Spokane County on Thursday seeking eligibility for the 2026-27 season. It is his third attempt to gain eligibility, leaving him as the lone ineligible player on Gonzaga's roster.

Why it matters

Wiggins' case could determine whether Gonzaga's roster is complete for the season, as 14 of its 15 players are now eligible. A court injunction would also prevent the NCAA from punishing Gonzaga if an earlier ruling is later overturned.

Wiggins averaged 13.3 points per game and shot 38.7% from three on 5.8 attempts per game at Florida State last season. The Spokane County court has not announced a timeline for ruling on his request for immediate eligibility.

The players

Chauncey Wiggins

Wiggins is a former Florida State guard and Clemson player seeking immediate eligibility to play for Gonzaga in the 2026-27 season.

NCAA

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the governing body for college sports and is the defendant in the eligibility lawsuits.

The details

Wiggins was previously part of the Godfrey vs. NCAA lawsuit filed in Georgia, but the Georgia Court of Appeals granted the NCAA's stay request, rendering him ineligible. A Waco, Texas judge, Ryan Luna, denied a temporary restraining order for Wiggins and others, prompting his new filing in Spokane County. His attorneys cited more than 50 court rulings nationwide favoring student-athletes in support of the request.

Timeline

  1. Thursday: Wiggins files lawsuit against the NCAA in Spokane County.

  2. Monday: Gonzaga's 2026-27 season begins without Wiggins eligible.

  3. Saturday, Nov. 7, 2:00 PM PT: Gonzaga hosts New Mexico State in its home opener.

Season Trajectory

Wiggins' eligibility fight comes as courts across the country have increasingly ruled in favor of student-athletes, with attorneys citing more than 50 such decisions. Its outcome could reshape the depth and competitive balance of Gonzaga's roster during a season where it already has 14 of 15 players cleared.

If the Spokane court grants Wiggins immediate eligibility, he could join Gonzaga's rotation for its Nov. 7 home opener against New Mexico State at 2:00 PM PT. Fantasy managers tracking Gonzaga should watch for a ruling before the game, as Wiggins' scoring and three-point production could change the team's lineup.

The takeaway

Wiggins' case shows how individual court rulings can keep players in limbo even as a growing body of decisions favors student-athletes. Fans following Gonzaga should track the Spokane ruling as it could change the roster before the season's first home game.

Further reading

For more on college hoops across the region, browse the Basketball section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.

Live Poll

Should college athletes be allowed to play while eligibility lawsuits are pending?