Louisiana Court Ruling May Allow NFL Players to Return to College Football

A recent ruling by a Louisiana court may allow several NFL players to return to college football for the 2026 season, further blurring the lines between the two levels of play.

The court granted a temporary restraining order to a group of 33 athletes, enabling them to pursue another college season despite having signed NFL contracts. Notable players involved include Anthony Hankerson, Jack Pyburn, Dae’Quan Wright, and Wydett Williams, all currently on NFL rosters.

To take advantage of this ruling, players must be released from their NFL contracts by September 1, just before NFL teams finalize their rosters. The lawsuit challenging NCAA eligibility rules argues that these athletes were unfairly denied a fifth season of competition. While the ruling does not guarantee any player will return to college, it opens a previously unavailable option for those cut from NFL teams.