Big 12 Conference

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order allowing the state's public and private colleges to grant a fifth year of eligibility to athletes who graduated high school in 2022, bypassing an NCAA rule that excludes players who have already competed four seasons. DeWine framed the move as a fairness issue, while NCAA president Charlie Baker objected, saying a single official cannot set eligibility rules for competitive advantage and renewed calls for Congress to pass the Protect College Sports Act. Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel backed the order, and none of Ohio's eight Division I programs, including Ohio State and Cincinnati, had immediately responded.

The order lands amid ongoing litigation over the eligibility rule, echoing how California's NIL law once forced nationwide NCAA policy change. In the key case, Wisne v. NCAA, a federal appeals panel in Denver heard arguments questioning whether plaintiffs adequately defined the relevant economic market for athletes' damages claims, a requirement for antitrust liability, with judges voicing skepticism. The NCAA has recently won related cases in Kentucky, Arizona and Ohio, while litigation continues elsewhere, including Louisiana. Judges also considered awaiting congressional action before ruling, though attorneys urged against delay given the shrinking window for affected players this season.