Kentucky linebacker Alex Afari Jr. got a boost Friday as the NCAA’s effort to keep him and other athletes sidelined took a setback in court.
Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Sara Walter Combs denied the organization’s request for emergency relief, leaving the athletes named in the lawsuit eligible to play for now. More than 30 athletes from the class of 2022 are part of the ongoing case, and they continue to push for an extra year of eligibility in their sports.
That does not mean the matter is finished. The next move belongs to a three-judge panel of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, which will weigh the NCAA’s request for interlocutory relief. The athletes’ attorneys have until Nov. 6 to respond.
For Afari, the timing matters. The college football season is closing in on the finish line, and every week carries more weight than it does for players in other sports still waiting on a ruling. Even with the legal back-and-forth, the Cincinnati native has managed to see the field in six of Kentucky’s eight games this season and has totaled 11 tackles.
He has not had the same kind of impact he produced in earlier seasons, but he remains available as the Wildcats try to navigate the stretch run. Kentucky has had a season unlike any other, with the program focused on making and advancing in the College Football Playoff, and depth pieces like Afari could prove important for Will Stein and his staff.
The players involved in the lawsuit are still looking for something definitive, and the court case appears to be moving toward that point. For now, though, Afari and the others remain eligible.
In Other News...
Kentuckys Roster Is Earning Serious SEC Respect Before Opening Night
The preseason chatter around Kentucky is already turning into something more concrete, with the SECs coaches giving the Wildcats a pair of early honors before the season even tips. Milan Momcilovic landed on the second team, while Malachi Moreno was named to the third team, a sign that Kentuckys roster is drawing real respect across the league instead of just buzz inside Lexington.
Momcilovic arrives from Iowa State with the kind of shooting pedigree that can change the shape of an offense, after leading the country in total 3-pointers made and 3-point percentage last season. Moreno, meanwhile, is back for his second year at Kentucky after making the All-SEC Freshman Team a year ago, giving the Wildcats a mix of proven perimeter firepower and a returning young piece that opposing coaches already know well. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky's SEC Title Chase Has One Threat Fans Can't Ignore
The SEC race has tightened into a familiar kind of November stress, with Kentucky and Georgia sitting atop the league standings with one conference loss apiece. For Wildcats fans, the math is simple enough to follow and hard enough to ignore: every remaining weekend carries weight, and the path to the league title is now shaped as much by what happens elsewhere as by what Kentucky does on the field.
Alabama is the complication Kentucky cannot dismiss, especially because the head-to-head tiebreaker already tilts in the Crimson Tides favor. That kind of edge can loom large in a crowded standings chase, even as Kentucky football continues to work at building its own momentum off the field, with modest gains in average home attendance and season ticket sales alongside ongoing stadium upgrades. It is a reminder that in Lexington, footballs progress still gets measured against the sport that usually sets the standard. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Just Got A Big Reason To Worry About Tennessee's Offense
Kentucky is using its bye week to patch up an injury list that already includes several important pieces, and the Wildcats may need the extra time after another setback around the backfield. Starting running back CJ Baxter remains in uncertain shape after his injury, leaving Kentucky with some real questions to sort through before it gets back to game action.
Across the field, Tennessee got a scare when DeSean Bishop went down with a right ankle injury, but coach Josh Heupel said the running back is expected to be in good condition for the upcoming game. That matters for Kentucky because Bishop has become one of the Volunteers most important offensive threats, ranking second nationally in rushing yards and giving Tennessee a backfield weapon the Wildcats will have to account for if hes ready to go. [Read more 🡒]