Inside The Huskies

NCAA Won't Change Rule, Which Keeps Manu In Limbo

The linebacker has sued the organization, seeking full eligibility this season and next.
Dan Raley|
Husky linebacker Jacob Manu separates the ball from Michiga tight end Deakon Tonielli (88).
Husky linebacker Jacob Manu separates the ball from Michiga tight end Deakon Tonielli (88). | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

It might have been nothing more than coincidence, but the NCAA released a statement on Wednesday denying athletes five years of college eligibility for now, with Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman explaining the decision.

Which means University of Washington senior linebacker Jacob Manu more than likely won't be playing this coming weekend -- against Illinois.

Manu, who lost half a season to a knee injury at Arizona and a third of this season to his recovery at the UW, has sued the NCAA over the eligibility restrictions placed on him.

For multiple reasons, the 5-foot-11, 225-pound player wanted to play the rest of this season now that he's healthy again and have a full season in 2026 to share in financial incentives sure to come his way in NIL and revenue-sharing, plus be able to improve his NFL prospects.

With this ruling, Manu has appeared in three games, including last weekend's 24-7 loss at Michigan, and can play in just one of the UW's remaining five outings on the regular-season schedule to preserve his eligibility.

Of course, the one-time All-Pac-12 linebacker could take the field against the Illini and then sit out until a possible bowl game.

Jacob Manu works the sideline as he sits out against Rutgers.
Jacob Manu works the sideline as he sits out against Rutgers. | Dave Sizer photo

Yet the more realistic scenario is the Huskies will want to have all hands on deck, Manu included, to face Oregon on Nov. 29 to close the season.

Either way, Manu and UW coach Jedd Fisch appear to have decided that the linebacker is going to play for the Huskies in 2026, no matter what.

The NCAA took into cosideration the idea of giving its athletes five years in which they could play in each one, effectively dismantling redshirt, medical waiver and hardship provisions.

In his statement, Whitman said the existing eligibility rules would be observed for the remainder of this season and for the 2026-2027 school year.

However, the Illini athletic director and NCAA committee member, noted how the rules still can change at a minute's notice, especially with the courts largely siding with people, such as Manu, who have challenged the norms.

Jacob Manu still has to figure out how his career should continue.
Jacob Manu still has to figure out how his career should continue. | Dave Sizer photo

Manu, who played his first three seasons for Arizona before transferring, has started against Ohio State, Maryland and Michigan so far for the Huskies, coming up with 13 tackles and a pass break-up.

He'll likely now will sit out games against Illinois, Wisconsin, Purdue and UCLA, and return against the Ducks two days following Thanksgiving.

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Dan Raley
DAN RALEY

Dan Raley has worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, as well as for MSN.com and Boeing, the latter as a global aerospace writer. His sportswriting career spans four decades and he's covered University of Washington football and basketball during much of that time. In a working capacity, he's been to the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the MLB playoffs, the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and countless Final Fours and bowl games.

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