MSU's Cooper Staying Alert for Small but Wild Possibility

There is a small chance the Spartans' starting center could actually end up returning next year.

(L to R) Michigan State basketball player Carson Cooper talks with the media during a press conference at Capital One Arena in Washington DC on Thursday, March 26, 2026. The Spartans play the University of Connecticut on Friday evening in the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball East Regional. | Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Carson Cooper is not eligible to play college sports anymore... probably.

Michigan State is operating under the normal assumption that Cooper will be gone. It's a cut-and-dry case: Cooper played in at least 30 games during his four seasons at MSU. But there is a potential rule change the NCAA and the government are considering that would just maybe grant Cooper a fifth season.

How It Can Happen

Michigan State's Carson Cooper walks to the bench after a timeout against Louisville in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the KeyBank Center on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI

"I don't think it's over," Cooper said recently while appearing on the "Locked on Spartans" podcast on Tuesday. "Obviously, it is tough, because, you know, Congress could take a year, could take a week. Who knows how that goes on, but it's definitely something I'm not just leaving on the table, not to look at it at all."

That potential rule change is relatively straightforward: athletes now have five years, starting from the time they turn 19 or graduate high school, whichever comes first. Since Cooper just played four years straight without taking a redshirt, both he and Jaxon Kohler would be eligible to come back to the Spartans if they were made eligible again.

Michigan State's Jaxon Kohler yells after being introduced as a starter before a game against Northwestern at the Breslin Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI

"I've talked with the coaches a little bit about it," Cooper also said. "Just all hypotheticals, obviously, this early. The timeline's obviously the most sketchy part of this whole thing with that."

This is still a MASSIVE "if," though. Changing from four years with all the redshirt rules to just five years would be another seismic shift in the college sports landscape. According to a Wednesday report by ESPN's Pete Thamel, the NCAA D-I Cabinet discussed the idea but didn't have a formal vote or take an official position on it.

Highly Unlikely

If (once again) this rule does happen, that doesn't necessarily mean Cooper and/or Kohler would be able to come back. The NCAA might try to phase in the five-year rule or delay its start date far enough that Cooper and Kohler will have to be playing professional basketball by then.

All of it puts Michigan State and Tom Izzo in a bit of a bind during transfer portal season. Cooper and Kohler are both players MSU would welcome back with open arms, but the idea of both of them getting an extra year of eligibility isn't something to bank on. Izzo is still looking for Cooper's replacement in the transfer portal.

Michigan State's Tom Izzo shakes the hand of an Ohio State assistant before a game at the Breslin Center on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI

It would really be mayhem in college sports if that rule changed and every four-year senior who thought they were done suddenly became eligible again. Teams would bring them back and probably have to force out younger players due to roster limits.

I probably wouldn't expect to see Cooper back in East Lansing -- there are too many hoops that haven't been jumped through. Still, the odds are technically not 0.0%.

Michigan State's Carson Cooper dishes out a pass against the Northwestern Wildcats during a game at the Breslin Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI