MJ Collins is back in limbo, and so is Cincinnati’s basketball roster picture.
A pair of court developments have knocked down the latest path that would have kept the Class of 2022 eligible for a fifth season, with the NCAA’s stay request in NCAA v. Wisne now granted by the Tenth Circuit in Colorado. The Ohio stay has also been granted, which leaves Collins - and any possible 15th roster addition from the Class of 2022 - currently ineligible.
“The Tenth Circuit has GRANTED the NCAA’s stay request in Wisne v. NCAA. Judge Sweeney’s nationwide injunction is now stayed pending appeal, meaning qualifying Class of 2022 athletes lose their federal fifth-season protection for now,” Austin Massey posted on X.
The Ohio case tied to Collins still has an injunction date set for Sept. 22, and there’s no clear timeline beyond that. Cincinnati is hoping to have a final answer on Collins before the season opener against American on Nov. 4.
“Update on the Ohio five-for-five case and (currently stayed) injunction quoted below. The Ohio Court of Appeals has set oral arguments in the case for September 22. This means we may have a decision in this case before the college basketball season starts in November,” Sam Ehrlich posted on X this week.
The NCAA has been pushing for this decision for weeks, including in an Aug. 11 statement that argued the rule should not be applied retroactively. The organization also said the injunction should never have been granted and asked the Tenth Circuit to permanently reverse it.
“The Tenth Circuit has ordered expedited briefing on our request for a stay pending appeal,” the statement read. “The deadline for the class members to file a response to the emergency motion is Friday, August 14.
The NCAA's reply brief must be filed no later than Monday, August 17. In the meantime, the Wisne injunction remains in effect (not anymore).”
“The Division I Cabinet, including its student-athlete members, carefully considered whether to make the age-based eligibility rule apply retroactively, and decided that doing so would not be in the best interest of all current and future college athletes. We stand behind and will continue to fully defend the membership's decision. The injunction should never have been granted, and we have asked the Tenth Circuit to permanently reverse it.”
For Cincinnati, the timing matters because Collins is viewed as one of the most important players the program could have this season. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound wing was a 2026 All-Mountain West Second Team selection and played a huge role for Jerrod Calhoun last year at Utah State.
He started all 36 games, one of just two Aggies to do that, and logged 30.7 minutes per game. Collins led the team and finished fourth in the Mountain West in scoring at 17.5 points per game, while also adding 2.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists. He shot 48.7% from the field and 36.1% from three.
For now, the wait continues as these cases work toward a final ruling in the coming weeks.
In Other News...
Jerrod Calhouns First Bearcats Schedule Brings Early Pressure
Jerrod Calhouns first season guiding Cincinnati now has a non-conference roadmap, and it does not leave much room for easing into the job. The Bearcats have unveiled a schedule that mixes exhibition dates with the usual buy games, while also putting some of the sports familiar heavyweight names on the calendar, giving the new coach an immediate look at where his team stands.
Ohio State, Illinois, Minnesota and Xavier are all part of the early slate, a lineup that should bring plenty of attention before league play ever arrives. The opening exhibition is set for October 7, 2026, and for a program trying to establish a new voice under Calhoun, the early weeks figure to say a lot about how quickly Cincinnati can settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Cincinnati Faces A Brutal Test That Could Define Satterfield's Future
Cincinnati has spent the first two seasons of its Big 12 life showing enough progress to suggest the rebuild is real, but not enough consistency to quiet the noise around Scott Satterfield. The Bearcats have fortified themselves up front with an offensive line that could send more than one player toward the NFL, while on the other side of the ball a new defensive coordinator is installing a 3-4 scheme in hopes of giving the defense a more defined identity.
The problem is the road ahead looks unforgiving, with several ranked opponents waiting and little margin for the kind of late-season fade that has already put extra pressure on the program. Add in major roster turnover, especially at the skill spots, and Cincinnati is asking a lot of newcomers to fill the gaps left by departures to the transfer portal and the NFL. The Bearcats have enough pieces to look better, but this schedule may decide whether improvement is enough or whether the frustration around Satterfield only grows louder. [Read more 🡒]
Bearcats Still Have One Big Question Heading Into Boston College
Cincinnati wrapped up 2026 fall camp with its final scrimmage and has moved into game-week preparation for Boston College, a point in the calendar where practice shifts from evaluation to sharpening the details that matter in September. Scott Satterfield came away encouraged by what he saw on defense, especially the way the unit tackled and held up in goal-line situations, while quarterback JC French IV continued to show the kind of steady progress the staff has wanted through camp.
Frenchs development has been a steady talking point for the Bearcats, and quarterbacks coach Pete Thomas pointed to the way he has handled the full stretch of camp with resilience. Even so, there is still a lingering piece of the picture Cincinnati has not fully solved before the opener, which is why the offenses first real test against Boston College will tell a lot about how far the quarterback room has come. [Read more 🡒]