Court Injunction Creates Path for Some Former Cal Football and Basketball Players to Regain NCAA Eligibility.

A federal court ruling issued Friday has created unexpected possibilities for college athletes who believed their NCAA careers had ended, including several former California Golden Bears football and basketball players. U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a preliminary injunction requiring the NCAA to recognize an additional season of eligibility for athletes from the high school graduating class of 2022 who have spent only four seasons on college rosters. The decision addresses a group of athletes who were left in a transition period after the NCAA adopted its new five-years-of-eligibility model.

The ruling could affect multiple sports across the country, but at Cal, attention has quickly shifted to whether any recently departed athletes might return for the 2026-27 academic year. Among the most notable football names is cornerback Brent "Paco" Austin. Austin completed four seasons on Cal's roster before signing with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent. Because he was not selected in the NFL Draft, the injunction could potentially allow him to return to Berkeley if he chooses and if Cal has room to add him to the roster. Such a move would depend on several factors, including NFL roster decisions, NCAA guidance, and the university's willingness and ability to reinstate him before the season begins. Cal opens preseason football practice in approximately one week, leaving little time to navigate those logistical questions.

Another former Cal defensive back, Hezekiah Masses, also spent four seasons with the Golden Bears. However, after being selected in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, he is not expected to qualify for a return under interpretations of the ruling that distinguish drafted players from undrafted free agents. In addition, Masses is widely expected to compete for a spot on the Raiders' regular-season roster.

Other former Cal football players are unlikely to benefit from the injunction because they spent five or more seasons on college rosters. That group includes wide receiver Jacob De Jesus and defensive linemen Aidan Keanaaina and TJ Bollers, each of whom signed NFL free-agent contracts after exhausting their eligibility. The basketball program could also see implications from the court's decision. Former forward Chris Bell appears to fit the eligibility criteria outlined in the injunction. Bell signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the New Orleans Pelicans after going undrafted and participated in NBA Summer League competition. If he does not secure an NBA roster spot, returning to Cal could become a realistic option for both Bell and the Golden Bears. Guard DJ Campbell may also qualify for another season because he completed only four years on college rosters without using a traditional redshirt season. Not every departing basketball player would benefit from the ruling. Forward John Camden previously redshirted during his freshman year at Virginia Tech, giving him five roster seasons and placing him outside the apparent eligibility window.

On the women's basketball side, Sakima Walker would also remain ineligible because she was already on a college roster during the 2020-21 season. Beyond football and basketball, the injunction could have broad consequences for NCAA programs in sports such as baseball, softball, volleyball, and gymnastics, where schools may suddenly have opportunities to welcome back experienced athletes who had already moved on from college competition. Despite Friday's decision, significant uncertainty remains. The NCAA has not yet provided comprehensive guidance explaining how schools should implement the injunction, how roster limits will be handled, or how athletes with professional contracts will be treated in every circumstance. For now, Cal and other universities across the country are evaluating which former athletes may qualify, while coaches await additional clarification before making roster decisions ahead of the fall sports season.