Zakai Zeigler recently completed his 4th season of college basketball. The Tennessee standout is now suing the NCAA in hopes of playing a 5th season.
While there have been suits focusing on not counting DI seasons such as JUCO or DII, Zeigler is focusing broadly on eligibility and redshirt rules. Standard NCAA DI eligibility is 4 seasons in 5 years, with waivers granted for hardships and other reasons.
As seen in other suits, Zeilger mentions his potential NIL opportunities.
Through the redshirt system, NCAA institutions not athletes –largely control who gets access to the fifth year of eligibility, strategically “banking” eligibility for some athletes while denying it to others, without consideration, based purely on institutional preference and benefit,” the suit reads. “But, because Zeigler participated in athletics for four consecutive years, the NCAA bars him from representing his school in interscholastic competition in the fifth year of the competition window-and thereby excludes him from the market for NIL compensation.
All NCAA athletes should be eligible to compete and earn NIL compensation during each year of the five-year window-not just those selected to redshirt. By prohibiting fifth-year competition for most athletes, including Zeigler, the NCAA eliminates the most experienced, productive, and highest-paid group of players from the labor pool, creating a substantial anticompetitive effect that furthers no academic purpose. And as a result, the market output—the product viewed by consumers is harmed.
This is no small matter. Without the Court’s intervention, Zeigler faces an imminent and irreparable injury. In turn, he seeks preliminary injunctive relief to permit him to compete in the 2025-2026 basketball season while he pursues a graduate degree.
Zeigler’s suit also brings up the fact that many athletes got 5 full seasons because of COVID-19. Zeigler’s career began after the pandemic-impacted season, meaning the NCAA counted all 4 seasons against his eligibility.
Another eligiblity lawsuit has been filed against the NCAA, this time by Tennessee basketball's Zakai Zeigler.This is something of a twist from the formula: Zeigler, who has played at UT since his true freshman year in 2021, seeks a fifth year within his eligibility window. pic.twitter.com/DVyM6OsGUN
— Sam C. Ehrlich (@samcehrlich) May 20, 2025Zakai Zeigler files suit against NCAA for 5th year of eligibility Saturday Down South.
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