Former Florida State basketball starter Alex Steen is suing the NCAA over its eligibility rules as he seeks the opportunity to play a fifth season of college basketball in 2026-27. The emergency action was filed Aug. 14 in the Circuit Court of the Second Judicial Circuit in and for Leon County, Florida.
The filing describes the new rule as the “5-in-5” rule, which permits athletes to compete in five full seasons within a five-year eligibility window.
Steen’s complaint argues that the NCAA excluded athletes who graduated from high school in 2022 and did not sit out a full season during their college careers. Steen graduated from high school in 2022 and did not redshirt during any of his four college seasons, placing him within that excluded group, according to the complaint.
Steen’s lawsuit comes amid a broader legal fight over the eligibility of athletes from the high school Class of 2022. U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney previously granted preliminary relief to members of that class seeking a fifth season of competition for 2026-27.
Steen is seeking a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to prevent the NCAA from enforcing eligibility rules that currently prohibit him from competing in the 2026-27 season.
Steen began his college basketball career at Division II Florida Southern during the 2022-23 season, spending three seasons there before transferring to Florida State for the 2025-26 season. During his sophomore season, Steen fractured his foot in late January before returning ahead of the playoffs. After returning and helping Florida Southern reach the NCAA Regional Championship, Steen re-fractured the same foot, bringing his season to an end.
During his season at Florida State, Steen played 633 minutes, scoring 218 points while recording 28 blocks, 28 assists and 22 steals. He also became a full-time starter and led the Seminoles in rebounding, according to the complaint.
Steen’s attorneys argue that the effects of the NCAA’s decision were felt directly at Florida State:
“The NCAA’s exclusion of Mr. Steen is not an abstract national policy dispute; it caused injury in Florida. Florida State University is an NCAA member institution in Leon County, and the NCAA issued communications to Florida State rendering Mr. Steen and the high-school class of 2022 as ineligible. Those communications are what rendered Mr. Steen ineligible at Florida State and prevented the Florida-based opportunities he seeks to protect.”
Due to Steen competing during each of his first four college seasons without redshirting, the NCAA considers his four seasons of competition exhausted, according to the complaint.
Steen is also asking the court to prevent the NCAA from penalizing any school that allows him to compete under a court order. His attorneys argue that the NCAA’s Rule of Restitution and “Ghost Transfer” penalties could discourage programs from putting Steen on their roster even if he receives temporary legal relief.
Steen argues that immediate relief is necessary because roster spots, scholarships, revenue-sharing payments and NIL opportunities for the upcoming season are already being determined.
The complaint states:
“This is an emergency action to prevent the NCAA from barring Alex Steen – an elite college basketball player – from competing in the 2026-27 season. Emergency relief is necessary because the 2026-27 season is imminent, roster spots and the scholarship, revenue- sharing, and name, image, and likeness (“NIL”) opportunities tied to them are being filled now, and a season of competition – once lost – can never be restored.”
If Steen is granted another season of eligibility, a return to Florida State could remain an option.
The complaint states:
“Mr. Steen’s coaches at Florida State told him they wanted him back, and his agent fielded calls from several schools that wanted Mr. Steen to attend, pursuant to which Mr. Steen would have been paid lucrative revenue-sharing and NIL deals.”
Steen’s complaint also points to the NCAA’s support for federal legislation that his attorneys showcase would make him eligible for another season.
“Currently, the NCAA is lobbying Congress to pass the Protect College Sports Act, which would permit Mr. Steen to play his fifth season in the upcoming 2026-27 season. The NCAA is arbitrarily and actively denying Mr. Steen’s ability to play next season, while simultaneously vehemently lobbying Congress to pass a statute that would allow Mr. Steen to play next season.”
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