Court Ruling Grants Fifth Year to All Class of 2022 Athletes Including these Indiana University Football and Basketball Players August is setting up to be a wild month across college sports. Get ready for some last-minute roster reshuffling. Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court of Colorado granted a class-wide preliminary injunction on Friday requiring the NCAA to declare all athletes from the high school class of 2022 eligible for the 2026-27 year. “All persons in the United States who began to play in collegiate sports in the 2022-2023 season, competed in NCAA Division I sports, and completed four years of eligibility as defined by the NCAA’s prior rules by the conclusion of the 2025-2026 season, and are therefore barred from playing a fifth season due to the NCAA’s adoption and immediate implementation of the Five-Year Eligibility Rule,” the class certification read.
This development comes after the NCAA passed its five-year eligibility model this summer but did not extend a fifth year to class of 2022 athletes who exhausted all of their eligibility under the old rules during the 2025-26 academic year. This means the following players from the 2025 Indiana football team now have a fifth year of eligibility: Aiden Fisher, linebacker, Stephen Daley, defensive end, Kellan Wyatt, defensive end, Elijah Sarratt, wide receiver, Holden Staes, tight end, Jonathan Brady, wide receiver and Mitch McCarthy, punter
The ruling entails a transfer portal window for all players impacted that runs from August 3-10. So, no player should be required to stay at Indiana, and the IU staff should have the option to pursue newly eligible players from other schools. Of course, Fisher and Sarratt were both drafted in April and they’ve both signed contracts. Even if eligible, it is highly unlikely either would have interest in returning to college. Brady is currently at the Las Vegas Raiders’ training camp. Daley and Wyatt were both injured during the 2025 season. If recovered, they could certainly be high-impact additions to a roster. Staes is very intriguing from an IU standpoint since every tight end on their roster is a freshman or redshirt freshman.
The NCAA could announce a blanket waiver for class of 2022 athletes in order to avoid further uncertainty. But it could also appeal the U.S. District Court ruling, which would add courtroom twists and turns in the weeks to come. IU fans experienced something similar last year when safety Louis Moore sought and eventually won an extra year of eligibility. For IU basketball both Sam Alexis and Reed Bailey are part of the class of 2022 and were already seeking an injunction to return to college. Alexis obtained an injunction ruling on Friday as part of a Tennessee ruling. Both Alexis and Bailey are also covered under this sweeping federal ruling. For IU women’s basketball, Shay Ciezki is covered as well, although she has played in the WNBA this season.
In response to the federal ruling, NCAA President Charlie Baker restated the importance of passing the Protect College Sports Act, designed to provide the NCAA antitrust protection on the eligibility issues. “Today’s rulings and the chaos they bring to college sports are exactly why it’s time to pass this bill,” Baker said. On Friday evening the Big Ten Conference and Southeastern Conference said in a joint statement they support the Protect College Sports Act as currently drafted, following “detailed and productive negotiations with Senators Cruz, Cantwell and Schmitt, and their respective staffs.”
Former Indiana University Basketball Player Sam Alexis Receives Injunction to Play Fifth Year After spending the week with IU basketball in Peru, Sam Alexis has won an injunction in a Tennessee court to play a fifth season of college basketball. The news comes just days after head coach Darian DeVries said Indiana was open to a late roster addition to the team. It is not yet clear if Alexis will play for Indiana. An Indiana spokesperson declined to comment on the developing situation. There is no indication Alexis entered the transfer portal during the April window. The court order also requires the NCAA to open the transfer portal Aug. 3-10, which would seem to allow Alexis to pursue opportunities at other schools.
The 6-foot-9 and 240-pound Alexis played in three games for Team USA (Indiana) in Lima at the FISU America Games and produced 39 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks while shooting 18-of-22 (81.8%) from the field. The Hoosiers have 6-foot-11 Aiden Sherrell and 7-foot-2 Samet Yigitoglu as probable starters in 2026-27. As a veteran high-major player with experience in DeVries’ system, Alexis could provide a major boost to the depth and overall outlook for this year’s team. Alexis spent one season with Indiana and etched his name in the program record book. His 68.7 field goal percentage is the best single season ever by an IU player on 100 or more attempts.
After transferring in from Florida, Alexis played in all 32 games and started the final 23 for the Hoosiers. He averaged 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 21.3 minutes per game. Alexis also made a personal best 72.5% (50-of-69) from the free throw line, had a team-best 50 dunks, posted 13 games with 10-plus points, and eight games with at least eight rebounds. Alexis was on a college basketball roster for four seasons. He sought injunctive relief after the NCAA recently passed a prospective five-year eligibility rule but did not extend that option to players who exhausted their eligibility in the 2025-26 year under the old rules. The court order Alexis is party to also enjoins the NCAA from enforcing sanctions under the Rule of Restitution against any school Alexis plays for in 2026-27. Another member of the 2025-26 IU team, Reed Bailey, is also seeking relief in the courts to play this season.
Indiana University Football Head Coach Curt Cignetti provides insight on Tight End Health and Offensive Line Positions Heading into fall camp, Indiana head football coach is pleased with his team’s health. The Hoosiers dealt with a lot of injuries during spring practice, with an abbreviated offseason after their national championship run. Players had less time than normal to have offseason surgeries and go through recovery processes ahead of spring ball. But now, with more time passed and summer workouts completed, IU is looking healthier for fall camp. “We got some little things where a guy might be limited to start camp, and by week two, he’s cranked up, ready to go,” Cignetti said Thursday at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. “But, yeah, we’re on the mend.”
IU’s tight end room was more decimated than any of its position groups this spring. It’s already a young, inexperienced group, but they were heavily limited by injuries during spring ball. The room became so thin that Cignetti and his staff had to move players from other positions to tight end for some second or third-team reps, just because they needed someone there. Grant Cain’s group remains the team’s biggest question mark going into the season. And health-wise, uncertainty still remains. Redshirt freshman Miami (Fla.) transfer Brock Schott is coming off hip surgery while he was with the Hurricanes. The Hoosiers were high on true freshman Trevor Gibbs coming out of high school, but he was limited in spring ball after a foot procedure. Redshirt freshman Andrew Barker suited up during spring, as did redshirt freshman Blake Thiry, who’s still transitioning from wide receiver to tight end. “We’ll know a lot more after practice one, after the second week, after camp (ends),” Cignetti said. “That room is really young. Really young. … I’m really anxious to see Schott, Gibbs, and the progress Barker makes, and then we got a couple new ones that weren’t with us in spring.”
Indiana’s offensive line was one of the team’s biggest strengths during its run to the national title last season. IU brings back a lot of that unit, with three full-season starters back in left tackle Carter Smith, left guard Drew Evans, and right guard Bray Lynch. But some of those positions may be changing. Center Pat Coogan exhausted his eligibility, and Indiana didn’t add a clear-cut replacement in the transfer portal. Cignetti revealed an early look at how his team will adjust: redshirt sophomore Adedamola Ajani, who played both guard and tackle at times last season, is set to take on right guard duties. Lynch will start out fall camp at center, while Evans — despite playing center during spring ball — will remain at left guard. Wisconsin transfer Joe Brunner will assume IU’s right tackle job. “That’s the one thing Bob Bostad does a nice job of. Even in camp, he’ll move guys around guard, tackle, center, to develop that depth when something happens during a game in season,” Cignetti said.
Ajani looked like a key piece for Indiana’s future with the way he stepped up in 2025. He became part of a rotation at right tackle with Zen Michalski and Kahlil Benson during the College Football Playoff, when Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan occasionally utilized six players on the offensive line. Cignetti indicated Thursday that Ajani feels more comfortable at guard than tackle. He also, seemingly, challenged the Indianapolis native. “We’re looking for him to make a step. He’s a young guy. A lot of times these young guys try to have it both ways: fun at night, and then do the work in the building. You can’t have it both ways,” Cignetti said. “And he’s just gotta make a few better choices and decisions, get a little tougher mentally, so that he can play the way we want him to play from the first play to the last play.”
Caitlin Clark Records Triple-Double and Kelsey Mitchell Extends Records With a 112-98 Indiana Fever win over the Portland Fire The Indiana Fever continue to rewrite the record book as they racked up another win Friday night. Caitlin Clark recorded her fourth career triple-double with 26 points, 10 points and 10 assists as Indiana reached the 100-point plateau for the fifth straight game in a 112-98 road win over the Portland Fire. The 100-point streak extends the WNBA record the Fever set earlier this week. It was also the 13th time the Fever have scored over 100 points this season, also a league record. Mitchell also scored 26 points, her 13th straight game with 20-plus points, which ties Diana Taurasi for the second-longest streak in WNBA history. Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson holds the mark with 20-straight games with at least 20 points. The Fever All-Star also recorded her 13th straight game with at least three 3-pointers, extending her league record. Makayla Timpson, Monique Billings, Aliyah Boston and Sophie Cunningham also scored in double figures for Indiana. Bridget Carleton had 26 points to lead the Fire. With the win, the Fever moved into fourth place in the WNBA standings, a half-game ahead of Atlanta and a half-game behind third-place Golden State. The Fever travel to Minnesota this afternoon to face the league-leading Lynx. Minnesota has won nine straight games.
Franklin Indiana Native Max Clark Goes 3-for-4 and Scores Twice in his Major League Baseball Debut It was just one game, but Franklin native Max Clark lived up to the hype in his major league debut. The third overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and two runs scored as the Detroit Tigers routed the Athletics 13-1 Friday night. Clark drew a walk in his first career plate appearance, hours after he was officially called up to the big leagues for the first time in his career. After making a running catch in the bottom of the third inning, the Franklin High School grad picked up his first MLB hit with a single to left field. Clark showed a wide smile as he stood on first base, with his family cheering in the stands. Clark grounded out to second in the fifth but sparked a seven-run eighth inning for the Tigers, with an RBI double for his first career run batted in to give Detroit a 3-1 lead. Two batters later, Clark scored his first big-league run on Ben Malgeri’s fielder’s choice. Clark doubled again in the night for his third hit of the game and scored on a single by Javier Báez that pushed the Detroit lead to 11-1.
“He was very prepared,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “Our belief in him is obviously very strong and he showed tonight why. It’s fun to see him develop and grow up and learn, and our (player development) group did a really good job getting him ready for this spot and he delivered. It was fun to watch him dominate the night.” After a rough stretch early in the season at Triple-A, Clark has found his batting stroke of late and was hitting .276 with 11 homers, 42 RBIs and an .802 OPS for Toledo. That led to the call to bring him to the big leagues and Clark delivered in front of a crowd that included about a dozen family members who made the trip. “It was an unbelievable debut,” he said. “I felt so supported by this group, and that just speaks to the guys.”
Clark got off to a good start, drawing a walk in his first plate appearance and then hitting a soft single to left field his next time up for his first career hit. He then came up in a big spot in the eighth with runners on first and third in a 2-1 game. He drove a pitch to the opposite field for a double to make it 3-1, and the Tigers rolled from there. “That’s the exact scenario you dream of as a little kid — coming up runners in scoring position, wanting to do something in a close game,” he said. “Just being able to execute and help the team win is huge.”
One of the top prospects in baseball, the Tigers called Clark up from Triple-A Toledo Friday afternoon. “He was killing it in Triple-A. Had one of the most impressive Julys in Toledo,” Hinch said. “We’ve been watching his development all season, step by step. He’s really earned it. I think there’s not much more he needed to do there to show his readiness. Now we’re going to give him the next challenge, which is up here in the big leagues.”
Sophie Cunningham says she’s not concerned about being a distraction for the Indiana Fever Sophie Cunningham says she’s unconcerned that the rallies against transgender participation in women’s sports that have accompanied the Indiana’s Fever’s recent games are a distraction for the WNBA team. Cunningham made the comments before the Fever’s game Friday night against the Portland Fire. Outside, a group rallied for the second straight game in support of Cunningham and her recent comments about transgender athletes. “I think at the end of the day, I come in and I do my job,” Cunningham said. “I think everyone who knows me personally, they know that I’m full of love. I’m bubbly. I love the people around me. I love basketball. I love inspiring the next generation and doing that in a positive light. And so that doesn’t even cross my mind. Doesn’t cross my teammates’ minds.
“And again, I’m here to play basketball, but I’m also here to be me, and I’m not gonna like shadow that or hide or, you know, dim my light just because maybe people don’t agree with that.” Portland’s rally came after a similar rally for Cunningham earlier in the week before the Fever’s game at the Seattle Storm. Both rallies only attracted about two dozen participants and a bevy of onlookers. “I have honestly had nothing to do with them,” Cunningham said. “I think it’s people just practicing their rights of freedom of speech and doing what other fans have been doing since the WNBA has started. And so, props to them, props to everyone who is able to be competent and be bold and courageous enough to speak their truths.” Another rally is planned for today in Minneapolis when the Fever play the Minnesota Lynx.
In Seattle on Monday, two Cunningham supporters sat courtside at Climate Change Arena holding signs. A co-owner of the Storm, Celeste Keaton was later fined an undisclosed amount and suspended for five games by the WNBA for an exchange with the two supporters. The Storm also apologized for the incident but did not provide details about the exchange. “We remain committed to creating a welcoming and respectful environment for anyone who attends a Storm game,” the Storm said. The Seattle rally promoted statewide ballot initiative, IL26-638, that would bar transgender students from participating in girls’ athletics at Washington schools. It also praised Cunningham, who voiced support for barring transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports in recent interviews.
“I am here to be a cheerleader for Sophie Cunningham, who has so bravely put her head above the parapet to protect women and girls in our sports and in our locker rooms,” said Amy Souza, who was among those at the rally. “I was an organizer of this event, I was a co-organizer of the Seattle event. I’m also here, standing in solidarity with those teen girls who, unfortunately, were harassed when they were just trying to be fans of the sport, fans of Sophie Cunningham.”
Cunningham was booed by the Moda Center crowd in Portland when she entered the game midway through the first quarter. Many waved small pink, blue and white transgender flags. The Fever entered the game on a four-game winning streak and had won eight of their last 10. Coach Stephanie White said she was concerned that the controversy was distracting from the team’s play. “You know there is a frustration, of course, because we want to, we want to talk about basketball and we want to continue to work on our game and we want to continue to grow as a team.,” White said. “But I also understand this is part of our growth edge as a league, right? It’s part of our growth as a league, and we have to to be able to manage, we have to be able to insulate as much as we can, and then we have to be able to lead with conversation.”
Kiana Siefert and Ben Kennedy Claim Taylor University Athletics Top Honors Kiana Siefert and Ben Kennedy were named the winners of Taylor’s annual Natalie Steele and Gates-Howard Awards, which recognize TU’s top senior female and male student-athletes for excellence in competition, academics, character and leadership. Student-athletes are nominated for the prestigious honors and voted on by the Taylor head coaches. Siefert was named the Natalie Steele Award recipient after completing her time as a two-sport athlete at Taylor with a 3.82 grade-point average in management and marketing. Her outstanding work in the classroom was recognized by two CSC Academic All-American awards, four CSC Academic All-District nods, six NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognitions and four Academic All-Crossroads League awards over her career with the TU soccer and track and field programs.
In addition to her excellent academic work, Siefert shined on the pitch as well as the track for the Trojans as a key four-year contributor to each program. The Noblesville, Indiana, native was a two-time First-Team All-CL forward with 49 points, 18 goals and 13 assists over 55 games for the women’s soccer program and capped her career by being named as a United Soccer Coaches NAIA All-North Region selection. Siefert continued that production on the track for TU in various events including hurdles, relays and jumps as a 14-time All-CL standout, 11-time NAIA National Qualifier, six-time individual CL Champion and two-time NAIA All-American. Siefert departs Taylor as the Trojans’ record-holder in the indoor and outdoor triple jump, the 100-meter hurdles and the heptathlon.
“Kiana winning this award is a testament to who she is as an athlete, but I think it speaks to who she is as a person even more so,” said TU head track and field coach Derek Gay. “There are layers of impressiveness here that I do not think most people will truly be able to appreciate, but she is a nationally competitive athlete in not one but two sports. She is a phenomenal student in the classroom, and she is a spiritual leader on campus. In my opinion, Kiana is one-of-one and the gold standard of Taylor Athletics.” “Kiana’s explosive speed and focused determination struck fear into our opponents, while her calm presence and spiritual maturity provided a steadying influence for our team,” added TU women’s soccer head coach Scott Stan.
Kennedy was selected as the Gates-Howard Award recipient after graduating from Taylor with a 3.70 grade-point average in human physiology and preventative medicine. The slick fielding shortstop turned in fine work in the classroom as well with a CSC Academic All-American nod this spring along with three NAIA Scholar-Athlete awards and two Academic All-Crossroads League selections. On the diamond, Kennedy helped Taylor to four-straight Crossroads League Championships and a remarkable 187-51 clip over his career. The Evansville, Indiana, native was at his best during his senior campaign, earning All-Crossroads League status to go along with a previous CL Gold Glove recognition. Over his time with the Purple and Gray, Kennedy played in 218 games and produced career numbers of 209 hits, 29 home runs, 90 extra-base hits, 173 runs batted in and 184 runs scored while hitting .307 with a .420 on-base percentage and a .538 slugging percentage. Kennedy was even better with the glove, turning 61 double plays in the middle of TU’s infield and racking up 506 assists.
“Ben has been a major force behind the success of Taylor Baseball over the past four years,” expressed TU baseball head coach Kyle Gould. “That was never more evident than this past season, when Ben’s maturity, leadership and performance as one of the top shortstops in the country propelled us to the best season in program history. The investment he made in his teammates, both on and off the field, will continue to impact our program for many years after his graduation.”