A federal judge denied Friday a request from a NC State football player to block NCAA rules that stopped him from using an additional year of eligibility in 2025.
Corey Coley Jr. filed his lawsuit in February, after the NCAA denied his waiver request, seeking a fifth year of eligibility after suffering a season-ending injury in the Wolfpack’s sixth game of 2024. Coley Jr. played three seasons at Maryland and one at NC State and played in 38 games over those four seasons.
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He challenged the NCAA’s five-year eligibility rule saying it violated antitrust law.
Judge James C. Dever III in the Eastern District of North Carolina denied the request for a preliminary injunction, writing in his order that “the balance of hardships does not favor Coley” and that by granting his request he would upend the NCAA’s Division I Bylaws affecting more than 180,000 athletes.
Further, he wrote, “even if the court granted Coley the relief he requests, nothing guarantees that Coley will get the additional playing time and NIL money he seeks.”
WRAL has reached out to Coley for comment.
In the lawsuit, Coley argued he could “earn substantial sums” by playing another season of college football. Athletes have cashed in on name, image and likeness payments since the NCAA changed its rules in 2021. Beginning in July, top schools are expected to share up to $20.5 million in revenue directly with athletes — with football players receiving the vast majority — if a federal judge certifies a $3-billion settlement between the NCAA, major conferences and former players.
The NCAA has considered proposals to allow all athletes to play five seasons in five years, a move that could end redshirt seasons and waivers.
Several other lawsuits have sought to change NCAA rules around eligibility in recent years, including those that deal with the number of times athletes are allowed to transfer and whether junior-college seasons should count against years of eligibility.
Coley’s overall case can continue.