Jayden Fielding could be returning to college football.
247Sports’ Chris Hummer reported Saturday that the former Ohio State kicker is exploring a return to college football for a fifth year of eligibility after a Colorado judge issued a court order on Friday requiring the NCAA to grant a fifth year of eligibility to all athletes in the 2022 recruiting class.
Ex-Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding is exploring a 5th year of eligibility following Friday night's court order, his rep @cjrecruiting2 tells @CBSSports.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) August 1, 2026
A former all-Big Ten selection and 3-year starter, Fielding hit 16 of 20 FG attempts during the 2025 campaign. pic.twitter.com/ISonKxjqNY
Fielding, who did not redshirt at Ohio State, exhausted his eligibility after playing his fourth season as a Buckeye last year. Following a June rule change last month to eliminate redshirts and grant all players five years of eligibility, however, the NCAA has faced a host of lawsuits from athletes in the 2022 recruiting class who exhausted their eligibility last year but are now seeking an opportunity to play a fifth year of college sports because of the recent rule change.
Following the preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney on Friday, a host of athletes whose college careers ended last year have declared that they will seek the opportunity to play another year of college sports, and Fielding is now joining that group.
It is unlikely Fielding’s return would be at Ohio State. Baylor transfer Connor Hawkins is expected to be the Buckeyes’ new starting kicker this season, while Ohio State also added Notre Dame transfer Marcello Diomede and freshman Cooper Peterson this offseason to back up Hawkins.
Fielding was Ohio State’s starting kicker from 2023-25, making 45 of his 57 field goal attempts (78.9%) and 178 of 179 extra point attempts. He made the game-clinching field goal in Ohio State’s 34-23 national championship win over Notre Dame.
That said, Fielding’s Ohio State career is remembered by many fans for the kicks he didn’t make, particularly his 38- and 34-yard misses in the Buckeyes’ 13-10 loss to Michigan in 2024 and his 27-yard miss in the Buckeyes’ 13-10 loss to Indiana in the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game. Fielding also never made a field goal of 50 yards or more in his Ohio State career.
After showing he could make longer field goals with a 57-yard kick at Ohio State’s pro day in March, Fielding signed with the CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks in May. His time north of the border was short-lived, however, as he was released less than two weeks after signing with the team.
As such, a return to the college ranks now stands as Fielding’s most likely opportunity to continue his football career, though the NCAA plans to file an “expedited” appeal to the court order.
The NCAA sent a letter to member schools with its reaction to the Colorado ruling with the 2022 class.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) August 1, 2026
Within the letter the NCAA states it plans to appeal the decision “on an expedited basis.” pic.twitter.com/2VKUFvkFXu
Other Ohio State scholarship players who exhausted their eligibility last season that would have had a fifth year of eligibility under the new rule change were running back CJ Donaldson, defensive end Caden Curry, linebacker Sonny Styles and cornerback Davison Igbinosun. Given that all of them are now under contract with NFL teams, however, Fielding is the only Ohio State player who exhausted his eligibility last season that’s likely to explore a return to college football.
