North America

NCAA sues Ohio governor DeWine over fifth-season eligibility decree

Private rule-setter asks federal court to stop a state executive from handing athletes a hall pass, Ohio's eight Division I programs stay publicly silent while the Ohio Supreme Court weighs the order's legality

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NCAA president pressed on NIL paydays, Protect College Sports Act NCAA president pressed on NIL paydays, Protect College Sports Act foxnews.com
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine standing on the sideline at Ohio Stadium Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine standing on the sideline at Ohio Stadium foxnews.com
Charlie Baker in January 2025 Charlie Baker in January 2025 foxnews.com
President Donald Trump, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and coach Ryan Day standing on the White House South Lawn President Donald Trump, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and coach Ryan Day standing on the White House South Lawn foxnews.com

The NCAA sued Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in federal court on Friday, three days after the two-term Republican signed an executive order letting state universities give athletes who graduated high school in 2022 a fifth season of college competition. The association's June eligibility rule excludes those athletes, and the NCAA wants a court to stop a governor from rewriting its rulebook by decree.

NCAA President Charlie Baker — himself a former Massachusetts governor — called the lawsuit an "extraordinary step" intended to prevent DeWine from making it "impossible for all schools to compete on a level playing field." The filing accuses DeWine of trying to give Ohio athletes "a hall pass" from NCAA rules and an "unfair, unprecedented and unwarranted competitive advantage in stadiums and arenas throughout the country." Under the order, both public and private Ohio universities could let the Class of 2022 play; the NCAA's guidance excludes anyone who has already played four seasons.

The association has skin in the game: its product is a nationwide competition whose value depends on uniform rules, and the eligibility rule is already the subject of multiple court fights. DeWine's office declined to comment. Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel — a championship-winning former coach at Ohio State and Youngstown State — backs the order, but Ohio's eight Division I programs, including No. 4 Ohio State of the Big Ten, have not publicly weighed in. University of Tennessee athletic director Danny White called the whole thing "comical" on social media.

The NCAA has been here before: in the early 1990s it prevailed against then-Nevada Governor Bob Miller over a state law that would have forced greater due-process protections in NCAA enforcement proceedings. The Ohio Supreme Court has separately said it will determine the legality of the executive order itself.