Veteran additions to the Syracuse football and basketball teams now ineligible after latest court ruling

An federal appeals court Friday backed the NCAA's request for an injunction of a previous ruling granting eligibility to players not covered in the new "5-in-5" model.

Nov 23, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Quinnipiac Bobcats forward Amarri Monroe (2) celebrates after defeating the Pittsburgh Panthers at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The federal courtroom saga of whether or not players from the NCAA class of 2022-23 will be granted a fifth year of eligibility in 2026-27 has changed once again, putting the effort of adding a couple of players that the SU football and basketball coaches were hoping to strengthen their respective rosters, in jeopardy.

A federal court of appeals ruled in favor of the NCAA Friday, at least until the next court hearing on the matter is contested in the coming weeks. The Tenth Circuit Court granted the NCAA's appeal to a July 31 federal court ruling from a Colorado judge which suddenly allowed athletes across the entire spectrum of Div. I sports a shot to get one more year of life as a college athlete.

The collegiate playing status of Orange receiver Justus Ross-Simmons and 'Cuse hoops forward Amarri Monroe is now in limbo

Even when Fran Brown and his players, led by the internal leadership group, welcomed Ross-Simmons back to practice with open arms last week sporting an unfamiliar Jersey No. 86, there was always the sense that a courtroom battle was about to escalate between the NCAA and the original class of players that filed suit to gain a fifth season back in mid-July.

The same held true when Monroe announced on social media August 4 that he was transferring to the 'Cuse for his final season of eligibility. He provided Gerry McNamara with a 16th roster addition in his inaugural campaign, with stellar enough credentials as a All-MAAC First Team selection last season to seriously ponder if he would jump right into starting lineup contention at the four spot.

Now it is back to the planning board for the respective Orange staffs, not that it was not on their minds that the fifth-year situation was always fluid once the NCAA passed its "5-in-5" age-based eligibility rules in June, understanding the predicament the players from the 2022-23 class were caught in as the one year most affected by the new model.

For Brown, it is being down yet another receiver in a room in which two expected contributors (Darius "Boobie" Johnson and Terrell Wilfong) are already out until the end of September with preseason injuries, and for McNamara, a change in plans of how he will build his position groups among his big men in preseason practice which begins September 21.

Just three weeks later the hoop team will play the first of its three exhibition games against Connecticut on October 13 at Mohegan Sun Arena, followed by a homecoming game for SU's Siena contingent against the Saints in Albany on October 18 (announced by SU on Friday), then a "home" game against Niagara at Buffalo's KeyBank Arena on October 24 to end preseason play.

SUPPORT THE JUICE ONLINE

Follow us on Twitter @TheJuiceOnline, like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram @SUJuiceOnline and listen to our podcast.