Claim: Jacob Manu’s lawsuit will force the NCAA to give all athletes a guaranteed fifth year of competitive eligibility.

On October 9, 2025, Jacob Manu, a Division I linebacker and former Arizona Wildcats standout, filed a federal antitrust lawsuit challenging the NCAA’s core eligibility structure. The case stems from a late-season knee injury during his time at Arizona and the eligibility rules that prevented him from regaining a season of competition after transferring to Washington. As Sports Illustrated reported, Manu recovered, earned a starting role with the Huskies, and then ran into the NCAA’s “four seasons in five years” framework, which left him with no path to continue playing beyond the 2025 season.

What the eligibility rules say

According to the National Collegi

See Full Page