BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The No. 6 Indiana Hoosiers are set to feature two key defensive linemen, Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt, in their season opener against North Texas this Saturday. This development comes in light of a court ruling issued on Friday night, which temporarily lifted restrictions on their eligibility.
Judge Kara Krothe of the Monroe Circuit Court in Bloomington granted a temporary restraining order that prevents the NCAA and its affiliated conferences from barring any of the plaintiffs in a related case from participating in Division I athletics during the 2026-27 academic year. This ruling is particularly significant for Daley and Wyatt, who were both previously granted an additional year of eligibility due to a prior court decision.
Daley had a standout season last year, leading the Big Ten with 19 tackles for loss after stepping into a starting role midway through the season. Unfortunately, he missed the College Football Playoff after suffering a knee injury during a postgame celebration following the Big Ten Championship. Wyatt also made an impact during the previous season, starting the first seven games and recording 28 tackles, eight of which were for loss, along with 2.5 sacks, before his own season ended due to a knee injury last October.
Despite their impressive college careers, neither player was drafted into the NFL nor signed as undrafted free agents. Their eligibility had been uncertain following an August 21 ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, which overturned a lower court's decision that had previously granted an additional year of eligibility to the high school graduating class of 2022.
Throughout this uncertainty, both Daley and Wyatt were allowed to practice with the team. Coach Curt Cignetti expressed his support for the players as they navigated the legal challenges surrounding their eligibility. This situation echoes a similar case from last summer involving starting defensive back Louis Moore, who was initially allowed to play in the first two games before being cleared for the entire season. Moore's contributions were vital in helping the Hoosiers secure their first national championship and achieve a historic 16-0 record, a feat not accomplished by a major college football program since the 1890s.
The current legal case in Monroe County also includes other athletes, such as former Indiana basketball player Malik Reneau, who is now at Miami, along with an Indiana women's volleyball player, two swimmers from the Hoosiers, and a Butler University basketball player. As the season progresses, the implications of this ruling could resonate beyond just Daley and Wyatt, potentially impacting the eligibility of several other athletes.
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