In what could well have far more impact on baseball than football, Vanderbilt’s QB, who started at a JC, has filed a major Antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA with a request the NCAA be enjoined (precluded) from enforcing current NCAA rules for Juco transfers.
Included in the relief being sought is overturning NCAA rules that 2 years of JUCO play counts against a player’s 4 years of NCAA eligibility. Another issue is the NCAA determining that being on a JUCO roster without playing counts as a year of eligibility (apparently there are non-JUCO post HS routes where the NCAA treats the eligibility in a different manner.)
And, of course there are NIL issues raised against the NCAA apparently on a theory that by giving a JUCO player only 2 years of eligibility, the NCAA is taking away 2 years of NIL income from a JUCO transfer.
While I am no expert, this lawsuit seems fascinating. At its core it seems clear JUCO and the NCAA are completely different bodies. How can the NCAA without collusion or antitrust implications limit NCAA eligibility based on playing under JUCO governance which is completely separate from the NCAA.
If an injunction issues against the NCAA, the implications for baseball seem enormous!