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Texas A&M Basketball Loses Key Piece After Stunning NCAA Court Setback
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- Texas A&M Basketball Loses Key Piece After Stunning NCAA Court Setback
(Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images)
Texas A&M basketball suffered a significant setback Wednesday when senior guard Rylan Griffen lost the legal protection allowing him to pursue a fifth college season, leaving his future with the Aggies uncertain just days before opening night.
The latest development in the Rylan Griffen eligibility dispute came during a hearing in Brazos County, where District Judge John Brick dismissed the player's lawsuit against the NCAA after determining his court lacked personal jurisdiction.
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The decision leaves Griffen ineligible unless his attorneys secure new legal relief.
It's a frustrating development for second-year coach Bucky McMillan, whose Aggies open the 2026-27 season Tuesday, November 3, against Alabama State at Reed Arena.
Griffen had been participating with the program under a temporary restraining order issued September 14. That protection expired Wednesday, and the court's dismissal means his return is again on hold.
His attorneys aren't conceding the fight.
"We will use every legal remedy available to preserve and protect Mr. Griffen's fifth year of eligibility," attorney Jay Rudinger said following the decision.
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The dispute centers on the NCAA's new five-year eligibility framework, which Griffen argues should also apply to athletes who began college in 2022.
Griffen played four seasons, spending two years at Alabama, one at Kansas and last season at Texas A&M.
He explored professional basketball during the summer, appearing briefly with the Denver Nuggets' NBA Summer League team. However, he testified that he never signed a professional contract or received compensation for participating.
His absence would remove an experienced contributor from an Aggies team hoping to build on last season's NCAA Tournament appearance.
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Griffen played 32 games in 2025-26, starting 27 while averaging 11.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
He also led Texas A&M with 1.6 steals per game and shot an impressive 40.4 percent from three-point range.
Those numbers made him one of McMillan's most reliable perimeter players.
Texas A&M finished 22-12 last season, including an 11-7 SEC record, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
With Griffen's status unresolved, the Aggies may have to rely more heavily on transfer guard PJ Haggerty and the rest of their reworked backcourt.
The timing is especially difficult because Griffen had already been preparing for the upcoming season and remained involved with the program.
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Still, Wednesday's decision doesn't necessarily end his pursuit of another year.
His legal team could seek relief in another court, potentially creating another eligibility change before the season begins.
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For now, however, McMillan faces an unwelcome reality.
Texas A&M is preparing to open its season without one of last year's most productive players, and there's no certainty about when - or whether - Griffen will return.
