Indiana Reinstates Stephen Daley for 1 More Season as NCAA Appeals Eligibility Injunction
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 5
Indiana Reinstates Stephen Daley for 1 More Season as NCAA Appeals Eligibility Injunction
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 5
Summary
Indiana added defensive lineman Stephen Daley back to its 2026 roster Tuesday, using a Colorado federal injunction that gives 2022 entrants an extra year of eligibility.
Daley, who led Indiana with 19 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 2025, skipped the NFL draft after a leg injury following the Big Ten title game and was medically cleared to return.
The move comes while the NCAA seeks a stay of Judge Charlotte Sweeney’s ruling, warning schools that players added now could become ineligible again if the appeal restores the prior rules.
That uncertainty has left compliance staffs and coaches across college sports weighing whether to reclaim 2025 players, with Tennessee coach Josh Heupel saying his program is still exploring the option.
At the center of the fight is the NCAA’s new 'Five and Five' rule, which plaintiffs say should not strip 2022-class athletes of a season without grandfathering them into the new system.