What the Latest NCAA Ruling in the 2022 Lawsuit Means for 2 Penn State Athletes

The latest court ruling in the NCAA's ongoing eligibility saga has major implications for two high-profile Penn State athletes. Will Josh Reed play basketball again for Penn State? And is Levi Haines' potential return to the Penn State wrestling team off the table?

A federal appeals court on Friday granted the NCAA's request for a stay of a class-action lawsuit that granted some college athletes a fifth year of eligibility. The NCAA asked for the stay pending its appeal of a July ruling in Colorado that granted a fifth year of eligibility to athletes in the 2022 recruiting class who played four years of college sports without redshirting.

The NCAA appealed the decision to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, which granted the stay request. As a result, the futures of those Class of 2022 athletes who intended to play another year in college are back on hold.

The legal challenges stem from the NCAA's so-called "five-for-five" legislation that grants current and future athletes five years to play five seasons, removing the redshirt option. The NCAA did not extend the fifth year to athletes who began their college careers in 2022 and played their fourth seasons last year. For Reed and Haines, the ruling puts their futures back up in the air.

NCAA statement:

The Tenth Circuit’s decision to stay the preliminary injunction issued by a Colorado federal district court judge in Wisne permits Division I to return to the status quo before the district court intervened. Effective immediately, the age-based eligibility rules…
— NCAA News (@NCAA_PR) August 21, 2026

Josh Reed's return on hold

Penn State Nittany Lions forward Josh Reed (10) dribbles against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. — Penn State Nittany Lions forward Josh Reed (10) dribbles against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at Jersey Mike's Arena. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Among those athletes affected is Penn State basketball player Josh Reed, who was part of alawsuit in Ohio that challenged the ruling. Reed scored a legal win in that lawsuit and another in July, when the federal judge in Colorado issued his ruling that the NCAA must allow Class of 2022 athletes to be included in the "five-for-five" rule.

Penn State capitalized on that ruling, announcing in early August that Reed would return for a fifth season with the Nittany Lions. That was a huge decision for Penn State. Reed became one of the Nittany Lions' most important players during the second half of last season, averaging 13.8 points and shooting 47.1 percent from 3-point range over the final 18 games,

Penn State has a very new roster this season, signing eight new players while still waiting on two international transfers. Reed would provide stability and familiarity for Penn State coach Mike Rhoades and his staff.

“I will say how everybody knows how much I love Josh Reed,” Rhoades said this summer. “He had a great year for us. His best year in college basketball is at Penn State. He also got his MBA. He's an impressive young man. He's a great example of what we want our guys to be.”

With this stay of NCAA's appeal, it's unclear when or even if Reed will be able to rejoin the Nittany Lions' roster. It also certainly will lead to more legal action.

Levi Haines' decision paused as well

Penn State Nittany Lions wrestler Levi Haines makes his entrance for the 174-pound final at the NCAA Wrestling Championships. — Penn State Nittany Lions wrestler Levi Haines makes his entrance for the 174-pound final at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

When the Colorado judge opened the door for fifth-year athletes to return, that gave Penn State wrestling a tremendous opportunity. Levi Haines, a two-time NCAA champion for the Nittany Lions, potentially could return for a fifth season.

Haines wrestled four seasons at Penn State, going 99-4, winning four Big Ten titles and placing third or better at NCAAs all four seasons. He won national championships at 157 pounds in 2024 and at 174 pounds last season.

Haines is a perfect fit in the right sport for the "five-for-five" rule. With another season in college, Haines could compete for a third NCAA title while remaining on track to qualify for the 2028 Olympics. He also could sign a lucrative NIL deal to return.

Though Haines has not commented publicly on this option, Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson sounded thrilled with the prospect in an interview with FloWrestling.

"Obviously we'd love to have Levi back another year, so I'm going to learn into that," Sanderson told FloWrestling. "Like yeah, let's go. It's just tough to penalize somebody. You're making a rule change mdistream in kids' careers, so i think that's tough to do."

Should Haines be eligible to return, Penn State could field one of its best lineups in program history. The five-time defending NCAA champions would return four NCAA gold medalists and seven wrestlers who went undefeated during the 2025-26 regular season.

Haines is scheduled to represent the U.S. at the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships in late October in Kazakhstan. Haines is among the favorites in the 79 kg men's freestyle weight class, where he placed second last year.

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