NCAA Attempting to Prevent a 24-Year-Old Transfer from Rutgers from Participating in Games
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is appealing a preliminary injunction granted to Rutgers football player Jett Elad, which allowed him to play a fifth season beyond the usual four. The appeal is being made to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, with oral arguments tentatively scheduled for September 15, 2025.
Judge Zahid N. Quraishi granted the injunction in April 2025, finding that Elad had a likely antitrust case and would suffer irreparable harm to his NIL (name, image, likeness) earning potential and NFL prospects if barred from playing the 2025-26 season.
Elad's lawsuit challenges the NCAA's restrictive eligibility rules, particularly the "Five-Year Rule" that limits players to four seasons within five years. The case centres on the application of this rule under antitrust law.
The NCAA argues that allowing Elad to participate in college sports for an indefinite period could constitute a "complete redefinition" akin to a minor league. They also suggest that it would permit athletes to train at junior colleges, Division II and III "indefinitely before transferring to Division I with four full seasons remaining."
The NCAA notes that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently sided with the NCAA in a case brought by Wisconsin cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean to play a fifth season of college football in five years. They argue that Elad's exclusion from playing college football doesn't show the rule causes economic harm from a market standpoint.
The NCAA also contends that Judge Quraishi's reliance on Coach Schiano's belief that playing for Rutgers could lead to Elad being drafted is "inherently speculative." They invite the Third Circuit to consider the ramifications of permitting athletes to participate in college sports well past the time necessary for them to complete a college degree.
Elad, a seasoned player at the collegiate level, has previously attended Ohio University, Garden City Community College, and UNLV. He is an accomplished player, being a finalist for the 2024 Jon Cornish Trophy and honorable mention for the All-Mountain West Team.
The possibility of the Third Circuit or another federal circuit siding with an athlete invites a potential "circuit split," meaning federal courts of appeals holding conflicting views about the same legal question. This could have wider implications for the NCAA's eligibility rules and NIL policies.
As of early August 2025, the NCAA's challenge to the Third Circuit ruling permitting Elad additional eligibility is pending, potentially impacting his participation in the 2025-26 college football season. It's important to note that the NCAA v. Alston (2021) decision has no bearing on eligibility rules for college athletes.
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An analysis of the ongoing legal battle between the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Rutgers football player Jett Elad, concerning Elad's eligibility for a fifth season, may have wider implications for sports-betting markets, given the potential impact on the rule of four seasons within five years. This case, centering on antitrust law, could lead to a reevaluation of sports-betting odds for basketball players considering the NCAA's eligibility redefinition.
The NCAA's argument that allowing athletes to train at junior colleges, Division II, and III institutions indefinitely before transferring to Division I with four full seasons remaining could potentially affect the performance and competitive balance in Division I basketball, impacting not only the college basketball scene but also sports-betting markets.
