sports

Cobb County Judge Allows Basketball Players to Compete Amid Eligibility Dispute

Published on 07/08/2026 07:14 in sports • Jessie Sale

A Cobb County judge has issued an injunction permitting sixteen Division I basketball players to compete during the 2026-27 season as their legal challenge to the NCAA’s eligibility rules progresses. The ruling safeguards the plaintiffs – who sued the NCAA in Cobb County Superior Court in July after exhausting four seasons of college eligibility – from NCAA penalties against schools and coaches for roster additions.

Players Claim Arbitrary Rules Cost Them Opportunities

The plaintiffs argue they were caught between the previous five-year eligibility system and the NCAA’s newly adopted continuous five-year model, which doesn’t automatically grant an additional season to athletes who used their final season in 2025-26. Many of these athletes, including former Clemson and Georgia forward RJ Godfrey, former UCF forward Jamichael Stillwell, and former Georgia Tech guard Lamar Washington, graduated in 2022 and believe the NCAA’s actions are unfair and have denied them competitive opportunities and potential income through NIL deals.

NCAA Defends New Eligibility Model

NCAA Defends New Eligibility Model

The Cobb County lawsuit contends the NCAA applied its eligibility rules arbitrarily and inconsistently. The NCAA has defended its age-based eligibility model as an effort to create a more consistent system and intends to appeal the Colorado ruling. This legal battle is part of a broader wave of challenges to the NCAA’s transition to its new system, with similar rulings granting relief to athletes in other states. A federal judge in Colorado recently issued a preliminary injunction covering Division I athletes from the Class of 2022.

Background

Background

Previously, NCAA athletes generally had five years to complete four seasons of competition, with exceptions including an additional season granted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new model, implemented this summer, provides a continuous five-year eligibility period beginning with full-time enrollment or a 19th birthday, whichever comes first.