When the 2025-26 season came to a close in the Sweet 16, that was supposed to be the end of Jamarques Lawrence's collegiate career.
But some "what ifs" still lingered.
What if 5-for-5 passed? What if the 2022 signing class was grandfathered in? What if that class wasn't grandfathered in, but got eligibility later?
Jamarques Lawrence helped Nebraska go from no NCAA Tournament wins in program history to two in the same weekend. | SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
With those questions in mind, Lawrence and other seniors who had been in college for just four years entered the transfer portal. This didn't mean they wouldn't want to return to the schools they had been playing at, but it simply left open the opportunity to continue playing college basketball if 5-for-5 passed and roster spots were taken.
Fred Hoiberg and Co. operated under the assumption that 5-for-5 would not pass, and guys like Lawrence could not return to Lincoln. That meant getting a new starting point guard from the transfer portal in Trevan Leonhardt out of Utah Valley. San Diego State's Taj DeGourville also transferred to Nebraska, bringing size and distribution off the bench.
And yet, Hoiberg left one roster spot open.
Jump to June, and the 5-for-5 eligibility model officially passed. The new model removes redshirting and waivers. All athletes have five years to play five seasons. The clock begins when an athlete enrolls in college or turns 19 years old, whichever happens first.
Jamarques Lawrence started all 35 games at Nebraska as senior, averaging 9.8 points and a career-high 3.8 assists per game. | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
But the 2022 signing class was excluded. That left open the potential for lawsuits, which the NCAA has posted an abysmal record in over the past several seasons. Those lawsuits recently opened the door for a fifth season of eligibility for the 2022 class.
That means Lawrence and Kendall Blue are among the athletes able to pursue a return to college basketball. Blue also entered the portal after the season, so the potential to go elsewhere is available to him as well.
As for the matter of Lawrence's return to Nebraska, the two sides don't appear to be making a quick decision on a reunion. There are several factors that could make it unlikely.
First, Lawrence's role and minutes have already been replaced. Leonhardt and DeGourville are picking up where Lawrence left off, and others on the roster are set to compete for minutes that would have otherwise gone to J-Law. What happens to the chemistry from the summer workouts and expected roles going into this fall when a multi-year starter shows up just as classes resume?
Second, can the sides agree on the money? Nebraska got an increase in available NIL and revenue sharing after the historic season, but the coaching staff was also careful about how much went where. Lawrence likely wouldn't play for free, and the reserves are also tapped at this point.
Finally, just because an injunction says Lawrence and others are eligible now doesn't mean that will remain the case. Let's say the egos aren't bruised too badly, and a financial deal is worked out; an appeal between now and November could result in the players no longer getting this extra year of eligibility. That would put every fifth-year player and team with such a player in limbo over the next few months about what is going to happen. It also wastes valuable practice time and reps that could have gone to someone without eligibility concerns.
Jamarques Lawrence hit the game-winner at Illinois, sparking a belief that this team was for real at the start of conference play. | Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
And none of this includes what the Protect College Sports Act would bring to collegiate athletics, including making the likelihood of Lawrence in Lincoln nearly impossible.
Hoiberg put together a solid transfer class and brought back the top pieces from last season who still had eligibility to return. While Lawrence was a fan favorite and played the hero at crucial points during the season, both sides may not be in a position to make the reunion happen for one more ride.
