The Weekender: Judge Cites NIL While Granting Injunction to Former D2 Player at Wisconsin Seeking Extra Eligibility, NCAA Seeks to Discourage Fake Injuries, and Deion Sanders Admits He "Couldn't Coach Pro Ball"

By George Eisner on February 9, 2025 at 2:45 pm
Former Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (left) and Wisconsin cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean
Jeff Hanisch — Imagn Images
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Own the group chat with The Weekender, highlighting the biggest stories in college sports, standout writing from Eleven Warriors, and a glance at what's next.

Judge Rules in Favor of Wisconsin CB Nyzier Fourqurean

NIL continues to dramatically reshape the college football landscape not only in terms of player compensation, but now also eligibility.

On Thursday, a federal judge in Wisconsin granted a preliminary injunction to Wisconsin cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean as he sought to have his eligibility clock extended after starting his college career at Division II Grand Valley State. This motion transpired a week after the NCAA denied Fourqurean's request for a waiver towards extended eligibility.

U.S. District Court Judge William Conley wrote in his decision that the NCAA's denial of Fourqurean's waiver, "underscores that there needs to be more meaningful exceptions to the Five-Year Rule to avoid unnecessary antitrust injury without an arguable procompetitive justification." The NCAA responded to the granting of injunction with concern that rulings such as these could adversely impact the opportunities for outgoing high school athletes to successfully make rosters of and compete on college athletic teams.

In a similar case from last November, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia sued the NCAA over the organization's rule that counted time in junior college towards overall eligibility. Paiva argued the regulation as a violation against antitrust law impacting his ability to profit off of his name, image and likeness. A month and a half later, a federal judge in Tennessee granted an injunction in the case similar to the one Fourqurean just received.

The NCAA expressed concern that Paiva's favorable outcome in that case could have widespread consequences for the student athlete ecosystem, although the ruling at the time specifically concerned eligibility relative to JUCO seasons. Less than two months later, the handling of a similar case has now expanded the scope towards players with time at the D2 level.

Whether or not one agrees with the NCAA having a right to enforce its own eligibility rules in the NIL era, college athletics appears dangerously close to having more student athletes than ever in coming years at ages that extend well past early 20s. A Congressional ruling for the sheer sake of stability may soon be necessary. 

NCAA Considers Proposal Against Fake Injuries

The American Football Coaches Association has proposed a new rule to combat the epidemic of players faking injuries that would require any athlete in need of medical attention to remain on the sideline for the rest of the possession. The NCAA Football Rules Committee has agreed to to consider the proposal at its meeting later this month.

The current rules surrounding injuries only require the player in question to exit the game for one play. In recent years — but particularly the latest season — teams exploited this mandate as a way to slow down offensive tempo or otherwise avoid a delay of game penalty for an impromptu timeout.

The proposal would allow coaches to use a timeout in order to get the injured player back onto the field for the same possession if cleared by medical staff. Players also injured on plays stemming from a penalty such as targeting would also not have to sit out the remainder of possessions.

Fake injuries became such an issue for the sport in 2024 that SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey felt compelled to put out a statement in November in which he pleaded for teams to, "stop any and all activity related to faking injuries to create time-outs."

Deion Sanders Shies Away From an NFL Coaching Future

After speculation that Coach Prime may receive the head coaching position for his former team the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, Deion Sanders went out of his way earlier this week to dump a bucket of cold water on any return to the NFL.

Roughly a week before the Cowboys parted ways with Mike McCarthy, Sanders stated on ABC's Good Morning America that the only way he'd consider coaching at the next level would be if a team drafted both of his sons. But that did not stop healthy speculation that Jerry Jones would bring Prime Time back to Dallas given the newfound vacancy at the top of the Cowboys' coaching staff.

Jones ultimately promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to the position towards the end of January. However, the circus around Sanders' candidacy prompted him to reiterate his stance.

Sanders went even further on his weekly show We Got Time Today in saying explicitly that, "I couldn't coach pro ball, because the way they practice, the way they go about it, I couldn’t take it, as a man, and as a football enthusiast, and I care about the game."

Whether primarily interested in not competing against his children or not dealing with what he deems to be lazy habits of professionals, Sanders now seems poised to hang around Colorado and college football longer than perhaps some expected.

ICYMI

Arvell Reese Hopes to Step Up at Linebacker for OSU Next Season

As Cody Simon prepares to leave Columbus, Ohio State will have big shoes to fill at middle linebacker next season. After an encouraging season of progress in a rotational role, incoming junior Arvell Reese has publicly made it his goal to become a productive starter next year.

Chip Kelly Speaks on Leaving Ohio State

After departing from the Buckeye coaching staff to become the highest paid offensive coordinator in the NFL, Chip Kelly clarified his feelings about the situation and Ohio State in an interview with The Athletic.

Top 10 Plays of Ohio State's 2024 Season

Having trouble deciding on the best or your favorite moments of brilliance from a National Championsip-winning campaign? Let Garrick Hodge refresh your memory as he provides a comprehensive top 10 plays and honorable mentions from the last year of Buckeye football.

What’s Next

  • Men's Golf: Puerto Rico Classic, Monday-Wednesday, All Day(s)
  • Men's Volleyball: vs. Purdue Fort Wayne, Monday, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+
  • Men's Lacrosse: vs. Bellarmine, Tuesday, 3 p.m. ET on B1G+
  • Men's Tennis: ITA Team Indoor National Championship, Thursday-Sunday, All Day(s)
  • Women's Basketball: vs. Minnesota, Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET on Peacock
  • Men's and Women's Swimming: Ohio State Winter Invitational, Friday-Sunday, All Day(s) on B1G+
  • Softball: Doubleheader @ Florida State, Friday, 2 p.m. ET — vs. Mizzou, Friday, 6:30 p.m. ET
  • Women's Tennis: @ Duke, Friday, 5 p.m. ET on PlaySight
  • Men's Hockey: vs. Wisconsin, Friday, 7 p.m. ET on B1G+
  • Wrestling: vs. Penn State, Friday, 7 p.m. ET
  • Baseball: @ Arizona State, Friday, 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Women's Lacrosse: vs. Louisville, Saturday, 10 a.m. ET
  • 202 Days: Ohio State football season opener vs. Texas
  • 265 Days: Jim Knowles returns to Columbus
  • 293 Days: The Game
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