BYU’s biggest preseason uncertainty has been erased, at least for now.
Jaxon Kohler will remain eligible for the Cougars after a California court granted his preliminary injunction Tuesday, giving him a fifth season of college eligibility. The ruling clears the way for BYU’s big man to stay on the floor while the legal fight continues, though the NCAA is expected to appeal.
The decision was first reported by Robby McCombs of Vanquish the Foe. CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein reported that the NCAA will challenge the ruling.
Sources: An injunction was granted in California for the Glancey V. NCAA case, giving all members of the Class of 2022 involved eligibility through the end of the 2026-27 college basketball season.
The NCAA will appeal.
- Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) October 20, 2026
Kohler’s bid for extra eligibility grew out of the NCAA’s new “five in five” model, which did not originally grandfather him in as a member of the 2022 high school class. That issue set the stage for his legal push, and Kohler was among more than 70 athletes who received a temporary restraining order in August through Glancey v.
NCAA. That order let him enter the transfer portal and eventually land at BYU.
The preliminary hearing in the case started in September and wrapped up Tuesday. With the injunction now granted, Kohler is eligible at least until the final trial date, which still has not been set.
He’s already shown what he can bring to the Cougars. Kohler, a four-year contributor at Michigan State and an All-Big Ten pick last season, posted a double-double of 10 points and 10 points in BYU’s preseason exhibition against Nebraska on Friday. After that game, coach Kevin Young called him “the perfect fit” at center for the Cougars.
“It felt amazing, it felt surreal,” Kohler said after the Nebraska exhibition. “I mean, to play with these guys, to play for the community I was raised in and to go out there and be a Cougar, man, it was really special, to be honest.”
This story will be updated.
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