Former Ole Miss starters Dae'Quan Wright, Zxavian Harris, and Wydett Williams are among 31 athletes granted a temporary restraining order Wednesday to return to college for a fifth season. The group filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in Louisiana state court, claiming the association breached its "covenant of good faith" by denying them the same fifth-year eligibility that past players received.

All three former Rebels signed with NFL teams this summer. Wright (Eagles/Browns), Williams (Cardinals), and Anthony Hankerson (Seahawks) are currently on NFL rosters but have expressed interest in being released to rejoin college teams. If released by Sept. 1, they can return under the restraining order.

The lawsuit challenges the NCAA's June eligibility rule change, which now allows five seasons within a five-year timespan but eliminates most injury-related waivers. The NCAA did not include outgoing seniors in the new rule, prompting over 100 athletes to sue across multiple states. A federal judge in Colorado issued a significant order in July allowing all 2022-23 starters a fifth season, though the NCAA is appealing.

NCAA senior vice president Tim Buckley criticized the rulings as destabilizing college sports. Sports law expert Sam Ehrlich noted many athletes file in multiple states as protection in case the primary injunction fails.