A Monroe Circuit Court hearing on the eligibility of Indiana football veterans Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt ended Monday afternoon without a ruling, leaving both players in limbo as the clock keeps ticking toward Saturday’s game against Western Kentucky.
The case centers on the NCAA’s new “five-for-five” eligibility rule, which excluded the 2022 high school class. Daley and Wyatt are part of a group of student-athletes suing the NCAA over that rule. They previously secured a temporary restraining order, but they now need an injunction to stay on the field.
Judge Kara Krothe gave attorneys until Thursday to turn in final documentation. Because the TRO expires Monday, Daley and Wyatt will be ineligible for Saturday unless Krothe issues a ruling before then.
The hearing stretched past five hours and featured testimony from a packed courtroom. Daley and Wyatt were among the athletes called to testify, along with IU swimmer Owen McDonald, volleyball player Avry Tatum and men’s basketball player Sam Alexis. Alexis’ appearance was unexpected because he is involved in a separate lawsuit seeking eligibility in Tennessee.
He was added to the complaint Monday as one of 89 additional athletes and has since withdrawn his name from the Tennessee case that is still moving through the courts.
The student-athletes pointed to the NCAA’s shifting eligibility rules as part of their argument. Ryan Downton, the attorney representing the athletes, also brought coaches and staff members to the stand, including IU deputy athletic director Stephen Harper, executive director of basketball operations Ryan Carr and director of football operations Blake Jackson.
"I'm grateful that the judge was willing to take so much of her time today," Downton told The Herald-Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. "She gave us five and a half hours for this hearing, very generous of the court's time. She recognizes the importance of this issue and how much it means to all of these athletes, who've traveled to be here, and so we're very appreciative that she gave us that time and consideration."
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