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State Judges Clear Two Michigan Guards to Play While NCAA Cases Proceed

The temporary orders put Kenny Noland and Roddy Gayle Jr. on Michigan’s roster now pending appeals and trial resolution.

Overview

  • An Indiana judge granted Kenny Noland a preliminary injunction on Wednesday that immediately made him eligible to play for Michigan during the 2026-27 season while his suit against the NCAA moves toward trial.
  • A New York judge granted Roddy Gayle Jr. a preliminary injunction on Thursday that restores his eligibility for 2026-27 after he had been operating under a temporary restraining order.
  • Both rulings are interim court orders that allow the players to compete now but do not decide final eligibility and can be altered by NCAA appeals, higher-court stays, or the eventual trial outcomes.
  • Noland’s injunction also blocks the NCAA’s restitution rule, which shields Michigan from penalties such as vacated wins for playing him while the order remains in effect.
  • The cases are part of a broader legal challenge by hundreds of athletes to the NCAA’s June five-in-five eligibility policy and could influence other state lawsuits and NCAA responses as the season begins.