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Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, right, guides his team onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The NCAA sued Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in federal court Friday, just three days after he signed an executive order allowing the state’s colleges and universities to decide whether athletes who graduated from high school in 2022 can compete for a fifth season. The order directly challenges the NCAA’s new eligibility policy.
NCAA President Charlie Baker described the lawsuit as an “extraordinary step,” saying DeWine’s order could make it “impossible for all schools to compete on a level playing field.” The case was filed Friday in an Ohio federal court.
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The executive order applies to both public and private universities in Ohio, permitting them to let affected athletes return despite NCAA guidance barring players who have already completed four seasons. Adopted in June, the eligibility rule is already facing challenges in multiple courts.
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