BYU center Jaxon Kohler was granted a preliminary injunction by a California court on Tuesday, according to a report published October 20. The ruling ensures Kohler remains eligible to play for the Cougars while he pursues a fifth season of college basketball.
The injunction, resulting from the case Glancey v. NCAA, replaces a temporary restraining order Kohler won in August. That previous order allowed him to enter the transfer portal and join BYU. This new ruling provides longer-term protection, keeping Kohler eligible until at least a final trial, though no trial date has been set.
The litigation involves 76 players, the majority of whom are from the 2022 recruiting class. These athletes are challenging the five-year eligibility model implemented by the NCAA. While the injunction is a significant step for Kohler, the NCAA is expected to appeal the ruling and will likely attempt to pause the injunction while the appeal is processed.
The legal landscape for these eligibility challenges varies by state. In Ohio, an appeals court unanimously overturned an injunction for 24 basketball players seeking a fifth year, ruling they could not be grandfathered into the new model.
In Indiana, a trial judge granted an injunction that runs through a December 14 trial date. The Indiana Supreme Court previously rejected an NCAA attempt to bypass the appeals court after the court denied an emergency motion to pause an injunction covering dozens of players. Kohler's California lawyers also represent players involved in the Indiana case.
In New York, the case remains pending after the NCAA appealed an injunction granted to players, including Kansas' Melvin Council Jr., last Thursday.
Kohler's eligibility status depends on the outcome of potential appeals. If the NCAA successfully pauses the ruling or reverses the California order, he would become ineligible. However, if the NCAA appeals but cannot secure a pause, Kohler would be able to continue playing for BYU through the upcoming season and leading up to a trial.
Kohler has already appeared once for BYU in an exhibition game against Nebraska. He remains eligible for the program's remaining games of the upcoming season as the legal process continues.
