Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Court Ruling Clears Two Indiana Linemen for Season Opener
Two Indiana football players were not sure if they could play this season.
A judge temporarily said they can play while the legal case continues.
The players are Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt.
Both had knee injuries last season.
They had already been given an extra year to play.
Another court decision later put that extra year in doubt.
Indiana will use them against North Texas on Saturday.
The larger case includes five other college athletes.
A temporary restraining order allows Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt to play for No. 6 Indiana against North Texas.
Judge Kara Krothe barred the NCAA and conferences from preventing seven plaintiffs from competing in Division I during 2026-27.
Daley and Wyatt previously received fifth years of eligibility after missing time with season-ending knee injuries.
Their eligibility was challenged after an Aug. 21 appeals court ruling overturned an additional-season decision for 2022 high-school graduates.
The case also includes former Indiana basketball player Malik Reneau, a volleyball player, two swimmers and a Butler basketball player.
- Who
- Indiana defensive linemen Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt, along with five other college athletes, are plaintiffs in the case.
- What
- Judge Kara Krothe issued a temporary restraining order allowing the plaintiffs to compete in Division I athletics during 2026-27.
- When
- The order was issued Friday night, before Indiana’s Saturday opener against North Texas.
- Where
- The ruling came from Monroe Circuit Court in Bloomington, Indiana.
- Why
- The athletes’ eligibility was in doubt after an Aug. 21 U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruling overturned a lower-court decision granting an additional season to the 2022 high-school graduating class.
Athletes’ Eligibility
NCAA Eligibility Challenge
Ability to compete
Athletes’ Eligibility
The temporary restraining order allows the seven plaintiffs, including Daley and Wyatt, to compete in Division I athletics during 2026-27.
NCAA Eligibility Challenge
The NCAA and its conferences had eligibility restrictions in place after an appeals court overturned a lower-court ruling granting an additional season to the 2022 high-school graduating class.
Current legal status
Athletes’ Eligibility
Indiana supported Daley and Wyatt while they practiced and continued their court challenge.
NCAA Eligibility Challenge
The temporary order is a court action in an ongoing case and does not resolve the broader eligibility dispute.
- Teams
- No. 6 Indiana and North Texas
- Players cleared
- Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt
- Ruling
- Temporary restraining order
- Judge
- Kara Krothe of Monroe Circuit Court
- Eligibility period
- 2026-27 Division I season
- Daley’s 2024 season
- Big Ten-leading 19 tackles for loss
- Wyatt’s 2024 season
- 28 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in seven games