NCAA Files Lawsuit Challenging Ohio Executive Order on Athlete Eligibility

The NCAA filed a federal lawsuit against Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine after he issued an executive order permitting the state's colleges and universities to let athletes from the high school class of 2022 compete for a fifth year. The filing came three days after the order was signed and argues that the move creates an unfair advantage by allowing those athletes to bypass the association's eligibility rule adopted in June.

Lawsuit Details and Competitive Concerns

The complaint states that the order would make it impossible for all schools to compete on a level playing field. It notes that the rule excludes athletes who have already played four seasons, and the association views the state action as an attempt to provide Ohio institutions with an unwarranted edge in competitions across the country. The NCAA has long maintained that its decision on the five-year rule was made after weighing impacts on different groups of athletes.

Related Legal Developments

The Ohio Supreme Court has agreed to review the legality of the executive order and paused a prior appeals court ruling that had declared the athletes ineligible. Both sides in a related case were asked to submit briefs by next Monday. The NCAA has indicated it will participate in those proceedings while maintaining that the athletes are not immediately eligible. Similar disputes are underway in other states involving additional athletes and conference policies.

Broader Context of Eligibility Challenges

Eight Division I programs in Ohio, including the No. 4 team in the Big Ten along with one in the Big 12 and six in the Mid-American Conference, have not yet commented on the order. The NCAA lawsuit outlines a series of court actions nationwide that have created varying eligibility standards by state and calls for federal legislation to establish uniform rules.