Recent NCAA Eligibility Rulings Highlight Expanding Judicial Role in College Athletics Governance

By Sarah Bouchard, Dana Gross, Noah Kaufman, and Ali Kliment, of Morgan Lewis In the era of name, image, and likeness (NIL), student-athletes are increasingly challenging eligibility limits, waivers, and participation rules, often seeking preliminary injunctions to preserve both competitive opportunities and significant NIL-related earnings. While the NCAA has prevailed in most cases, a growing number of courts—particularly at the state level—have granted temporary relief, creating variabili