Judge grants TRO against SEC, Greg Sankey over fifth-year issue

A federal judge in Dallas has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the SEC and Commissioner Greg Sankey from overturning an injunction that grants players from the high-school class of 2022 a fifth year of college eligibility after spending time under NFL contract, according to reporting from Yahoo NFL.

The prior injunction allows players who have signed with NFL teams to return to college for an additional year of play. The SEC's effort to create a conference-wide prohibition on recruiting and enrolling those players appears designed to generate political momentum toward passage of the Protect College Sports Act, per Yahoo's reporting. The Senate is expected to return from summer recess soon, with potential for movement on the legislation.

The temporary restraining order prevents the SEC from circumventing the court's prior ruling while the broader legislative battle continues. The ruling forces the conference to honor the existing injunction even as it pursues legislative action that would secure an antitrust exemption for schools and overturn player-favorable eligibility rules.