Eleven D-I athletes just dropped a class action lawsuit on the NCAA, and our own Jake Morell from Seattle University baseball is right there in the thick of it. This isn't just about an extra year; this could absolutely flip the college sports world on its head if these players get their way in federal court.
The NCAA's Head-Scratching Eligibility Exclusion
The NCAA's Division I Cabinet just pulled off a head-scratcher, greenlighting this new age-based, five-year eligibility model last month. It's set to completely replace the old four-seasons-in-five-years system, and it's supposed to kick off for full-time enrollees in Fall 2027. For anyone in the 2026 class or still playing, schools are just gonna use whatever model helps them out most, which honestly sounds like a smart move. Except for one massive, glaring problem. The athletes who just wrapped up their eligibility in the 2025-26 academic year? Poof, gone. No additional eligibility for them, zero, nada. They're stuck under the old rules, effectively cut off from this new opportunity. And that's exactly why this class action lawsuit, filed in federal court in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, is happening right now.Seattle's Own on the Front Lines: What This Means
Our very own Jake Morell from Seattle University baseball is one of the 11 D-I athletes taking a stand, and you better believe he's not alone. He's joined by some serious talent like Minnesota guard Cade Tyson, who dropped an incredible 19.6 points per game last season, and Northern Colorado forward Brock Wisne, who put up 16.2 points and 6.4 boards for a 20-win squad. Their lawyer, Rob Shelquist, said it perfectly: "These athletes aren't asking for special treatment. They're asking to not be singled out and excluded from the NCAA's eligibility framework." Think about it: The NCAA decided five years is fair, but then they pulled the rug out from under the very group who just finished their four years and would still be eligible under the new rules. If the NCAA loses this one, man, the ripple effect could be absolutely seismic across all of college athletics. We're talking about thousands of athletes getting another shot at educational, athletic, and NIL opportunities. Imagine the college football landscape getting completely reshaped with a flurry of veteran players suddenly able to transfer in for the upcoming 2026 season, just when programs need them most! This isn't just a few names; it's a potential earthquake for college sports that could hit hard and fast. The NCAA's been taking hits from eligibility disputes for years, and they're still facing state lawsuits over this new model. Despite all that, the D-I Cabinet released a statement on June 24 saying they "do not intend to change course." But with this class action suit seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, damages, and class-wide remedies, they might not have a choice. Keep an eye on this, Seattle. If Jake Morell and these athletes win, the world of college sports as we know it could be completely different very soon.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.