Ohio Class of 2022 College Athletes Could Get One More Season Under DeWine Order

Ohio colleges and universities now have a way to keep some veteran student-athletes in the game. Governor Mike DeWine signed Executive Order 2026-04D on Oct. 13. The order lets public and private schools allow otherwise eligible athletes from the high school class of 2022 to compete. Under the NCAA’s current reading of its new rule, many of those athletes would be out of eligibility. What Changed at the NCAA In June, the NCAA adopted a new eligibility model. It gives otherwise eligible student-athletes up to five years of competition. The clock starts the academic year after an athlete turns 19 or when they first enroll full time in college. Whichever comes first applies. There is a catch in the NCAA’s implementation guidance. Athletes who graduated high school in 2022 and have already played four seasons are denied a fifth one. What the Order Does The executive order gives Ohio institutions of higher education the authority to decline to uphold the NCAA’s restriction. It applies to otherwise eligible student-athletes who graduated high school in 2022. That authority lasts while legal challenges proceed. Schools are not required to act. Each college or university can decide whether to use the option. State Leaders Weigh In “When the rules change, fairness has to remain part of the equation,” said Governor DeWine. “We want Ohio’s student-athletes to have the same opportunity as student-athletes in other states.” Lt. Governor Jim Tressel also backed the move. “I commend Governor DeWine’s leadership on fairness in college sports,” Tressel said. “It’s important we do not deprive our current student-athletes of the same opportunities enjoyed by their peers.” Lawsuits Continue Student-athletes in Ohio and many other states have challenged the NCAA’s age-based eligibility limits. One Ohio case is in Hamilton County: Borovicanin v. Natl. Collegiate Athletic Assn. Not the First Time Ohio Has Stepped In This order follows actions the governor took in 2021 and 2024 as college athletics rules shifted. Those included an executive order on student-athletes’ ability to earn money from their name, image and likeness. What It Means for Northeast Ohio The order covers Ohio colleges and universities, including those in Northeast Ohio. Whether a specific school allows class of 2022 athletes to return is up to that school. Families and athletes with questions should contact their college’s athletic department directly.