U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney issued a new order clarifying that her Friday ruling granting a fifth year of eligibility to athletes who graduated high school in 2022 does not extend to football players who signed professional contracts this summer and then changed their minds. The judge affirmed that the ruling still stands but has no impact on other NCAA rules, including the prohibition on players signing pro contracts and then returning to college.

Teams have already begun practice for this season, but baseball does not start until later, creating a dilemma for coaches weighing the risk of bringing back potentially ineligible players.

The original decision had the potential to upend the upcoming college football season, as teams were planning on the so‑called five for five rule taking effect next fall. Some media reports even listed NFL and CFL rosters who might return, but Sweeney’s clarification removed those possibilities and left the NCAA’s transfer portal rules and House lawsuit settlement untouched.

NCAA president Charlie Baker called the ruling “chaos‑inducing” and urged Congress to pass the Protect College Sports Act. The bill, under consideration in the Senate inspectors, would shield the NCAA from challenges to eligibility rules that are being fought in courts nationwide.