The National Collegiate Athletic Association is challenging an Ohio judge’s decision that allowed 15 athletes to compete in the 2026-27 season and to transfer immediately, saying the court failed to disclose ties to schools linked to several players.
Judge's local connections draw scrutiny
Judge Chris Wagner, who issued the preliminary injunction earlier this week, attended Xavier University for his undergraduate degree and received his law degree from the University of Cincinnati, according to reporting tied to the case. Wagner’s wife holds a dean position at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Five of the athletes named in the litigation are affiliated with either Cincinnati or Xavier.
"The Court’s apparent ties with one of the schools seeking to roster an ineligible player were not disclosed to the parties. We continue to explore all avenues for reversal, including a stay of the court’s order pending appeal."
The NCAA provided that statement to media outlets as it explores legal options in response to the ruling. The association did not immediately specify which remedies it will pursue, but it indicated it could seek to stay the injunction while an appeal proceeds.
What the ruling does and the rule it disputes
Wagner’s order granted a preliminary injunction that lets the 15 athletes participate in the upcoming season despite the NCAA’s newly adopted age-based, five-year eligibility policy. The injunction also allows the players to enter the transfer portal and move to new schools immediately, even though the portal is currently closed under NCAA rules.
The contested NCAA policy starts an athlete’s eligibility clock upon full-time collegiate enrollment or at the beginning of the academic year after a student’s 19th birthday, whichever comes first. The change was approved by the NCAA earlier this year and formalizes a five-year competition window for most athletes.
Claims by the plaintiffs
The lawsuit, filed in June after the NCAA implemented the new eligibility model, argues the policy unjustly excludes athletes who graduated high school in 2022 and did not redshirt, while allowing older cohorts to keep expanded eligibility. The plaintiffs contend that NCAA athletes should expect consistent and fair application of eligibility rules.
- Number of athletes affected by the injunction: 15
- Judge involved: Chris Wagner (Xavier alumnus; UC law degree)
- Institutions connected to athletes: Cincinnati, Xavier (five athletes)
| Event | Date/Timing |
|---|---|
| Lawsuit filed | June 2026 |
| Judge’s preliminary injunction | Early July 2026 |
| Season affected | 2026-27 |
The case raises questions about judicial disclosure practices and potential conflicts when judges preside over matters that involve institutions with which they or family members have strong ties. For Ohio colleges and the NCAA, the outcome could affect roster composition and transfer activity statewide, particularly for programs at Cincinnati-area schools.
The NCAA’s next legal steps may determine whether the injunction remains in force through the season or is paused while appeals proceed. Until those steps are resolved, the affected athletes have clearance to compete and seek new schools under the court’s order.
