A California judge granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) on August 19, 2026, allowing more than 45 college basketball players from the high school class of 2022 to secure a fifth year of eligibility. This lawsuit targets the NCAA's new "5-in-5" age-based eligibility model, which grants student-athletes a continuous five-year window to play but excludes the 2022 graduating class from being grandfathered in.
## Current Status of the Litigation
While the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit recently issued a major blow to players nationwide by staying a broad, federal class-wide order (Wisne v. NCAA) on August 21, 2026, that federal pause does not affect state-level rulings. Because the California lawsuit is an independent action filed in state court, its specific protections remain fully intact for the athletes named in it.
## Key Facts About the California Case
* The Ruling: The TRO officially clears the path for named athletes to enter the transfer portal and suit up for the 2026–27 season. [2, 8]
* Who it Affects: Prominent players like UCLA's [Donovan Dent], Texas's [Jordan Pope], and Michigan State's [Jaxon Kohler] are part of this specific lawsuit. High school class of 2022 athletes like Furman's [Charles Johnston](
https://www.google.com/search?q=charles ... 11w20z8zv2)—who just finished his senior year—fall squarely into this category of players fighting to extend their careers under the new guidelines.
* The Legal Argument: Led by high-profile attorneys Darren Heitner and Ryan Downton, the suit claims the NCAA's cutoff is arbitrary and violates antitrust and state consumer protection laws. They argue it unfairly denies the 2022 class the same five-year athletic opportunities available to newer recruits.
The NCAA is actively appealing individual state court actions. However, until full trials or higher state appeals courts intervene, the California injunction provides a firm legal green light for its participants.
