MJ Collins Ineligible Again Following Latest Court Blow to Class of 2022

A massive blow just hit MJ Collins and the Cincinnati Bearcats basketball team. A major string holding up the fifth-year eligibility against injunctions from the NCAA for the Class of 202 has snapped.

Austin Massey posted on X that the Tenth Circuit court in Colorado has granted the NCAA's stay request in NCAA v. Wisne. The Ohio stay has also been granted, so Collins and any potential 15th addition to the roster (if they are from the Class of 2022) are currently not eligible.

"The Tenth Circuit has GRANTED the NCAA’s stay request in Wisne v. NCAA. Judge Sweeney’s nationwide injunction is now stayed pending appeal, meaning qualifying Class of 2022 athletes lose their federal fifth-season protection for now," Massey posted.

The Ohio case involving Collins has an injunction date set for Sept. 22, and there is no telling when that court case will finalize, as Cincinnati hopes to get a final status for Collins by the start of the season against American on Nov. 2.

"Update on the Ohio five-for-five case and (currently stayed) injunction quoted below. The Ohio Court of Appeals has set oral arguments in the case for September 22. This means we may have a decision in this case before the college basketball season starts in November," Sam Ehrlich posted on X this week.

It's a continuing battle between the NCAA and these players angling to play one more season in their respective sports. The NCAA pushed for a decision earlier this month, on Aug. 11.

"The Tenth Circuit has ordered expedited briefing on our request for a stay pending appeal," the statement read. "The deadline for the class members to file a response to the emergency motion is Friday, August 14. The NCAA's reply brief must be filed no later than Monday, August 17. In the meantime, the Wisne injunction remains in effect (not anymore).

"The Division I Cabinet, including its student-athlete members, carefully considered whether to make the age-based eligibility rule apply retroactively, and decided that doing so would not be in the best interest of all current and future college athletes. We stand behind and will continue to fully defend the membership's decision. The injunction should never have been granted, and we have asked the Tenth Circuit to permanently reverse it."

Collins is arguably the best player Cincinnati could roster this season.

A 2026 All-Mountain West Second Team performer, he was an essential piece for Jerrod Calhoun last season. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound wing was one of two Aggies to start all 36 games (30.7 minutes per outing). He led the team and ranked fourth in the Mountain West in scoring with 17.5 points per game while also averaging 2.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists on 48.7% shooting (36.1% from deep).

We await the final decision from these cases in the coming weeks.

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