HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA - NOVEMBER 22: Trent Hendrick #5 of James Madison Dukes on the field in the second quarter during a game against Washington State Cougars at Bridgeforth Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Harrisonburg, Virginia. (Photo by Brien Aho/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesOn Friday evening of July 31 exactly 29 days before the 2026 college football season kicks off game-changing news came out of the U.S. District Court of Colorado. The court ruling by Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a preliminary injunction that requires the NCAA to provide an additional year of eligibility to all athletes who graduated high school in 2022 and exhausted their eligibility during the 2025-26 academic year.The ruling aligns with the Protect College Sports Act, a bill currently on the Senate floor which proposes a 5-year eligibility window for all student-athletes. However, before this dramatically shakes up collegiate rosters during fall camp, the ruling is expected to be appealed by the NCAA per a memo issued by NCAA Chief Legal Officer Scott Bearby.After Fridays news, graduated players from across the country expressed interest in returning to college football. The Sun Belt Conference had several of its stars express interest, per On3 Sports Pete Nakos, including former James Madison inside linebacker Trent Hendrick and ULM defensive end Kevontay Wells. The NCAA cannot bar players from entering the transfer portal per Sweeneys ruling, so affected players have the option to return to their schools or transfer elsewhere.Below is a list players who graduated high school in 2022 who are NOT currently on NFL rosters. These players would be granted a fifth year of eligibility by the court ruling:All-Sun Belt First TeamOld Dominion OT Zach Barlev (currently on the Ottawa Redblacks CFL roster)James Madison ILB Trent Hendrick (participated in mini camp with Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs)Marshall CB Boogie TrotterAll-Sun Belt Second TeamGeorgia Southern RB OJ ArnoldMarshall WR Demarcus LaceyGeorgia Southern G Pichon WimbleyTexas State ILB Treylin PayneAll-Sun Belt Third TeamAppalachian State RB Rashod DubinionTroy G Matt HenryAppalachian State CB Ethan JohnsonGeorgia Southern RS/WR Dalen CobbAll-Sun Belt Honorable MentionArkansas State DT Simeon MitchellSouth Alabama SS Christopher Wallace Jr.Troy WR Tray TaylorULM RB Zach Palmer-SmithULM DE Kevontay Wells.Currently on NFL rostersThere are five 2025 All-Sun Belt players (including honorable mention) who graduated high school in 2022 and are currently on NFL rosters:Georgia State WR Ted Hurst (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 3rd round pick)Louisiana ILB Jaden Dugger (San Francisco 49ers, 5th round pick)Georgia Southern WR Camden Brown (Dallas Cowboys, UDFA)Georgia Southern WR Marcus Sanders Jr. (Minnesota Vikings, UDFA)James Madison SS Jacob Thomas (Minnesota Vikings, UDFA)However, these players could return to school under the ruling, as players cut from NFL training camps would still be eligible for a fifth season of college football.