Two court injunctions handed down on Friday in Colorado and Tennessee have opened the door for dozens of Texas A&M athletes to compete for an extra season of eligibility. The rulings, which directly challenge the NCAA’s new age-based eligibility rules, could benefit as many as 77 current and former Aggies across multiple sports, including football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, and track and field.

In Colorado, Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney of the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado issued a class-action injunction that applies to all NCAA Division I athletes who entered college in the 2022-23 academic year and have already used four seasons of eligibility under the old rules. The order grants them the right to compete during the 2026-27 academic year, provided they choose to exercise that option. The lawsuit behind the injunction argued that the NCAA’s new five-year eligibility rule—which eliminates redshirts and the waiver process—violated antitrust law by grandfathering out athletes who had already completed four years of competition in four consecutive years. The court agreed, defining the class as anyone who began college sports in 2022-23, competed in Division I, and completed four years of eligibility by the end of the 2025-26 season.

Separately, in Davidson County Chancery Court in Tennessee, Chancellor I’Ashea Myles issued an injunction granting 30 basketball players a fifth season of eligibility. This ruling also sets a special transfer portal window from August 3 to August 10, giving those athletes a narrow chance to find a new program if their current roster spots are filled.

Among the Texas A&M athletes who could benefit are football players Amari Niblack, who went undrafted in the 2026 NFL draft, and Jered Kerr. Running back Le’Veon Moss, who signed as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins but retired four days later, is also eligible. Moss was arrested in Baton Rouge on July 20 on a felony cruelty to juveniles charge after his two-year-old son accidentally shot himself with an unsecured gun under Moss’s pillow. Whether he pursues college football again remains unclear.

The men’s basketball roster had two candidates: guards Jacari Lane and Rylan Griffen. Baseball players include infielder Ben Royo, pitchers Grant Cunningham and Ethan Darden, catcher Blake LaBuda, and outfielder Jake Duer—though Duer was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2026 MLB draft and has signed a professional contract. The defending national champion Aggie volleyball team stands to gain the most, with eight players fitting the criteria: Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, Tatum Thomas, Emily Hellmuth, Logan Lednicky, Taylor Humphrey, Ava Underwood, Maddie Waak, and Morgan Perkins. Several of these athletes have already played professional volleyball, and Hellmuth transferred to LSU for beach volleyball last spring.

Other athletes across softball, soccer, women’s basketball, cross country, golf, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and equestrian are also listed in the injunction, including names like Ny’Ceara Pryor, Lemyah Hylton, and many more.

Despite the legal victories, significant challenges remain. The House v. NCAA settlement, which currently governs college athletics, requires teams to adhere to sport-specific roster limits. Many programs have already filled their spots with freshmen and transfer portal additions, leaving little room for returning fifth-year players. Additionally, athletes who entered the NFL draft—such as Niblack and Moss—face an uncertain path back to college sports. The NCAA has not yet clarified whether draft-eligible players can reverse course.

Further complicating the situation is the proposed Protect College Sports Act, which could nullify both injunctions if passed. On Friday, after the rulings were issued, both the Big Ten and the Southeastern Conference voted to endorse the bill. Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a co-author of the legislation, confirmed the conference approvals on social media. The bill aims to codify parts of the House settlement while granting college athletics limited antitrust protections. It still needs to pass the Senate and the House before reaching President Donald Trump’s desk for signature.

For now, the affected athletes have a window of opportunity, but the clock is ticking. The transfer portal windows, roster limits, and looming legislation create a complex landscape for those hoping to return to competition.