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UCLA Wire
Judge decides to grant the Class of 2022 another year of eligibility
- Story byUCLA Wire
- Judge decides to grant the Class of 2022 another year of eligibility
Once again the landscape of college sports has shifted. On Friday a Colorado judge ruled that the Class of 2022 high school graduates who have used all four years of college eligibility will be getting one additional season.
It's another wild turn in NCAA Athletics, where a single judge's decision can shift not only who will be the favorites for a national title, but who's even allowed to play. The judge's decision is a great one for a pair of former UCLA Bruins , with Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark both earning another season of eligibility after the two players were a part of a California lawsuit against the NCAA last month .
Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court of Colorado decided that it's only fair that the Class of 2022 got the same 5-for-5 rule that the NCAA has since established. USA TODAY writer Jordan Mendoza further explained the sudden shift.
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"The injunction comes after the NCAA changed its eligibility rules to an age-based model in June, going for the "5-for-5 rule" in which athletes would get five years of eligibility upon the start of their full-time enrollment," Mendoza wrote. "However, the new rule would only take effect for athletes entering college in the 2026-27 academic year, while the decision of those still enrolled with eligibility past the upcoming year was up to the discretion of the respective schools."
The Class of 2022 were stuck in the middle of the athletes who got an extra year due to the COVID pandemic and the 5-for-5 rule change, with the judge ultimately deciding that it's only fair for them to receive an additional season of eligibility as well.
UCLA 's roster is mostly built following the addition of Nikola Kusturica but Friday's ruling will have ripple effects throughout the college sports world. Time will tell if college football programs who are nearing the start of the 2026 season will bring in Class of 2022 football players to help boost their roster for this season.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Judge decides to grant the Class of 2022 another year of eligibility
