The NCAA’s latest legal setback is already paying off for a pair of Big 12 programs.
A Colorado federal judge, Charlotte Sweeney, issued a ruling last week that granted a fifth year of eligibility to all Class of 2022 athletes, and that decision immediately created openings for UCF and Houston. The NCAA is still trying to overturn the preliminary injunction, and the case is far from finished, but for now both schools have landed players who suddenly have a path to another season.
At UCF, linebacker Cole Kozlowski is the name to watch. He was part of the Class of 2022 and had already played four years of college football without using a redshirt. Kozlowski was a third-team All-Big 12 selection last season, and the ruling gives him a chance to return to the Knights.
He reportedly showed up for the first practice of fall workouts but did not take part, and his name has not yet been added to the team’s electronic roster. The Orlando Sentinel’s Matt Murschel reported on Wednesday that Kozlowski could be back sometime this week.
There is still a catch, though. The NCAA is trying to get the injunction overturned, and even if that effort fails, the lawsuit still has to run its course.
Kozlowski and other athletes could eventually lose the case, and the NCAA could still punish UCF for using an ineligible player. For now, though, the Knights are looking at the possibility of getting back a linebacker who made 82 tackles last season and could help a team that came one win shy of a bowl game in 2025.
Houston’s gain came on the other side of the ball. On Thursday, former Texas forward Chendell Weaver reportedly committed to the Cougars for the 2026-27 season under Kelvin Sampson. Weaver averaged 5.8 points and 4.1 rebounds for the Longhorns last year after beginning his college career at UT Arlington in 2022-23.
Weaver also challenged the new age-based eligibility rule and was tied to a case heard in Tennessee. Once the Colorado injunction opened the door, he was able to look for a fifth-year home.
A return to Texas was off the table because the Longhorns had no more scholarships, but Houston’s roster situation left room. The Cougars have 13 players on their electronic roster, which suggests they still have up to two scholarships available.
If Weaver ends up eligible, he gives Sampson exactly the kind of piece this roster can use: a defender, rebounder and energy player who handles the dirty work and helps create space for Houston’s more skilled scorers.
Nothing about this is fully settled yet. The legal fight is still moving through the courts, and both players remain tied to a ruling that could change. But right now, UCF and Houston are the ones cashing in on the NCAA’s latest loss.
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Phillip Dunnam Could Give UCF A Huge Secondary Boost In 2025
A recent court injunction has opened the door for 2022 graduates to gain another year of eligibility, and that has put Phillip Dunnam squarely in the middle of one of the more intriguing offseason questions for UCF. The Knights safety was a Second-Team All-Big 12 pick last season and was one of the most productive players in the back end of the defense, including a three-interception game against Houston that showed just how disruptive he can be.
Dunnam has already acknowledged the ruling on social media, and the possibility of bringing him back would be a major boost for a secondary that would welcome his experience and playmaking. There is still uncertainty around whether he will actually be available for 2025, and one of the sticking points is how the ruling applies to his previous roster situation, leaving UCF with a tempting possibility but no firm answer yet. [Read more 🡒]
Former UCF Star Keyshawn Hall Faces A Legacy-Defining Choice
Keyshawn Halls college path has already taken him from UCF to Auburn, and now the former Knights star is staring at one more decision that could shape how he is remembered. The senior guard was one of the Big 12s most prolific scorers two seasons ago and has piled up the kind of production that makes him a familiar name for fans who followed his rise in Orlando.
Hall is still eligible to return to college basketball for a fifth year, giving him a rare chance to extend a career that has already crossed multiple high-major stops. With interest coming from Kentucky and St. Johns, the next step carries real weight for a player whose blend of scoring and rebounding has made him one of the more intriguing late-offseason names still in play. [Read more 🡒]