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Will Indiana football's Stephen Daley, Kellan Wyatt be eligible?
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- Will Indiana football's Stephen Daley, Kellan Wyatt be eligible?
BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football defensive ends Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt won't be available to play on Saturday against Western Kentucky .
They are waiting for Monroe County Circuit Court judge Kara Krothe to issue a ruling on a potential injunction in the eligibility lawsuit they filed against the NCAA. They were eligible for IU's first two games thanks to a temporary restraining order that expired Monday after a hearing in the case.
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While they were allowed to remain on the practice field, they are currently ineligible for competition.
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Indiana football's Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt seeking fifth year of eligibility
The NCAA has faced legal battles across the country thanks to its new age-based eligibility framework. The new "five-for-five" guidelines allow athletes to play five seasons in five calendar years, but the rule excluded players from the 2022 high school class, even if they fit the criteria for an additional year.
Daley and Wyatt returned to Bloomington when the U.S. District Court of Colorado issued a class-wide preliminary injunction on July 31, 2026 to prevent the NCAA from excluding their high school class. They both played four seasons in four years.
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After the U.S. Court of Appeals issued a stay that case, Daley and Wyatt were among the athletes that filed a separate lawsuit in Monroe County. Indiana swimmer Owen McDonald, volleyball player Avry Tatum and men's basketball player Sam Alexis are among the 97 plaintiffs named in the complaint.
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Indiana's Kellan Wyatt (13) tackles Kennesaw State's Alexander Diggs (3) for a loss during the Indiana versus Kennesaw State Big Ten football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025.
Stephen Dale and Kellan Wyatt won't be eligible to play without injunction
Krothe heard five-plus hours of testimony earlier this week from a long list of student-athletes, coaches and team staff members about the impact of the NCAA's new rule. Like Daley and Wyatt, many of the student-athletes were participating in fall sports.
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She gave the attorneys in the case until Thursday to file their final arguments with the court, but didn't outline a timeline for her ruling. Ryan Downton, one of the lawyer's representing the student-athletes, told ESPN he expects a decision next week.
Daley and Wyatt won't be eligible to play in games going forward unless Krothe issues an injunction. The Hoosiers open Big Ten play against Northwestern in a Friday night game against Northwestern on Sept. 25.
More: Howard win puts spotlight on Indiana football's best 'team player'
Indiana's Mikail Kamara (6) and Stephen Daley (8) prssure UCLA's Nico Iamaleava (9) during the Indiana versus UCLA football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.
Stats for Indiana football 's Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt
According to Pro Football Focus, Daley has four tackles and two quarterback pressures in 32 snaps this season. Wyatt, who sat out the season opener, played nine snaps against Howard, but didn't record any stats.
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In 2024, Daley led the Big Ten in tackles for loss (19.0) and had the second most quarterback pressures (41) on the team.
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek .
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Will Indiana football's Stephen Daley, Kellan Wyatt be eligible?
