Does the NCAA, finally, have a fix for its eligibility issue?
The association is threatening to use a 51-yr-old rule to punish schools retroactively - vacate wins, etc - if it eventually wins cases in trial.
More in our weekly sports biz column for @On3 https://t.co/0bosVWbmon
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) February 19, 2026
This is a summary Ross Dellenger's On3 article on the NCAA's response to multiple lower courts granting injunctions that allow players back on the field after the NCAA says they're ineligible.
- In 1975, NCAA rules Oregon State player who signed pro contract is ineligible.
- Player gets district court to issue preliminary injunction permitting him to play.
- Months later, Federal court of appeals overrules district court injuction.
- NCAA invokes its "rule of restitution" to retroactively punish a school if a court's eligibility ruling is overturned, and orders Oregon State to forefeit 15 wins that player participated in.
According to a pair of legal filings from the association made this month [Feb 2026] — the NCAA is threatening to use the rule of restitution against Memphis and San Diego State, which each played a player last season, via a court order, despite the NCAA ruling them ineligible.
A lot of people think "game over" when Podunk County circuit judge issues a temporary restraining order on the NCAA, but the fun has just started.
