Federal Judge Denies College Football Players Seeking 5th Season

A federal judge has denied a request for a preliminary injunction from five college football players seeking to play a fifth season this fall. U.S. District Judge William L. Campbell ruled that the players did not demonstrate a likely success in their claim against the NCAA's redshirt rule, which limits athletes to four seasons over five years. The players involved — Langston Patterson from Vanderbilt, and Nathanial Vakos, Lance Mason, Nick Levy, and Kevin Gallic from Wisconsin and Nebraska — have all played four seasons in four years without a redshirt.

Attorney Ryan Downton, representing the players, expressed disappointment with the ruling, stating confidence that the NCAA's restrictions lack justification. The players are part of a broader lawsuit aiming for class-action status, which could include thousands of NCAA athletes across football, baseball, and tennis. Despite the ruling, Judge Campbell granted an injunction for Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, allowing him to play the 2025 season due to his start at a junior college.

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