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Iman Oates granted temporary restraining order to return to Oklahoma State football
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- Iman Oates granted temporary restraining order to return to Oklahoma State football
When the first Oklahoma State football preseason camp of the Eric Morris era opens next week, the Cowboys could have a big weapon back on defense.
Iman Oates was granted a temporary restraining order Wednesday in his eligibility case against the NCAA, his attorney, Ryan Downton, confirmed to The Oklahoman .
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The Tulsa Edison alum — who spent two seasons at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M before transferring to OSU in 2023 — is among 28 former JUCO players seeking additional college eligibility in a lawsuit against the NCAA.
Oates played in all 12 games for the Cowboys last season, making seven starts on the defensive line, recording 14 tackles and a forced fumble. He started all 12 games in the 2024 season, finishing with 25 tackles and two sacks.
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Oklahoma State defensive tackle Iman Oates poses for a photograph during the Oklahoma State Cowboys football media days in Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025.
Downton told The Oklahoman in April he was "cautiously optimistic about the result" on the basis that the current NCAA rule violates antitrust law and restricts name, image and likeness earning potential of athletes who played at a non-NCAA institution.
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So, what does this all mean for Oates and the Cowboys?
The first word is the most important in the TRO acronym. This is all temporary.
Oates' eligibility status for the 2026 season remains up in the air since the TRO only stays in effect until there's a hearing on a preliminary injunction — which would likely occur sometime in the next month inside a Payne County courtroom.
While the 6-foot-3, 315-pound lineman practiced with the team this spring, Oates has yet to be listed on OSU's online roster for the 2026 season as this eligibility case plays out.
The Cowboys open preseason practice on Aug. 5 in Stillwater and kick off the 2026 season at Tulsa on Sept. 5.
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Jeff Patterson is the sports editor for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jeff? He can be reached at jpatterson@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @jeffpattOKC. Support Jeff's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com .
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Iman Oates granted temporary restraining order to return to Oklahoma State football
