Who’s eligible for college sports these days? The answer has gotten murkier by the week, and RJ Luis Jr. is the latest example of just how strange things have become.
Luis led St. John’s to a Big East title in 2025 and won conference player of the year, but his last meaningful college game turned into a rough ending when the Red Storm were knocked out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
After that, he got short looks from the Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics last year without appearing in an NBA game. Now he has committed to play for Will Wade at LSU.
That sequence alone would have sounded odd not long ago. In the current college sports landscape, it barely raises an eyebrow.
The NCAA tried to tighten things up in June by adopting an age-based eligibility rule. Under that policy, student-athletes can get up to five years of eligibility - five full seasons, with no more redshirts and most waiver exemptions removed - after high school graduation or once they turn 19, whichever comes first.
But the rule didn’t stay tidy for long. Less than two months later, a Colorado judge issued a preliminary injunction that gave student-athletes from the Class of 2022 another year of eligibility. Since then, more lawsuits around the country have chipped away at both the new rule and older NCAA eligibility limits.
The result is a system where, if you are willing to hire a lawyer and file suit, there may always be a path back to school.
For some former professionals, though, the NCAA’s rules are actually more forgiving without any court fight at all. And conference bylaws can complicate things even further.
Keeping track of who can play - and why - has become nearly impossible, which is why the whole thing now feels like a moving target. As for Luis, his status is still unresolved. A hearing is scheduled for next week in Baton Rouge, La., home of the LSU Fightin’ Tigers.
In Other News...
LSU Has An Unexpected Camp Name Fans Need To Watch
Practice has already started sorting out LSUs depth chart in ways recruiting services never could. Lane Kiffin said he is not paying much attention to rankings when he evaluates players, and that approach has put transfer running back Stacy Gage in focus after a strong run of recent practices. The message is pretty clear: what matters in camp is what happens on the field right now, not what a player was labeled coming out of high school.
That same day also brought a fresh wave of practice updates across the roster, with some players working through injuries and others getting back on the field. For LSU, those status changes matter because they can quickly reshape the competition at key spots, especially when a name like Gage is pushing his way into the conversation. The camp battle is still unfolding, but he has already become one of the more interesting players to watch. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Just Hit A Major Roadblock In The RJ Luis Case
LSUs long-running eligibility question around RJ Luis took another turn this week, with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey filing an affidavit in a Louisiana court backing NCAA rules that bar former professional athletes from returning to college sports. The filing puts the Tigers basketball situation squarely in the middle of a broader fight over how much flexibility the NCAA should allow for players who briefly test the pro waters and then try to come back.
Luis is seeking to play in the 2026-27 season after signing a two-way NBA contract and being waived before the season, and Sankeys argument cuts to the heart of the dispute. He says letting former professionals return would create unfairness for current student-athletes who never left college for a pro path, setting up a case that now feels less like a routine eligibility matter and more like a test of where the line gets drawn. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Has One Late Camp Concern Fans Cant Ignore Before Clemson
Late in fall camp, LSU is still getting a clear look at where the pieces fit, and the conversation out of Day 14 centered on a few players making noise in the right spots. Lane Kiffin said defensive tackle Dominick McKinley has put together a strong stretch, while running back Stacy Gage has started to emerge as another name worth watching. He also singled out quarterback Sam and defensive player Princewill for the work they have shown during practice as the Tigers keep sorting through the final weeks before the opener.
The bigger concern, though, is on the offensive line, where Kiffin pointed to the depth as an issue that still needs attention. For a team heading toward Clemson, that kind of uncertainty up front is hard to ignore, especially this late in camp when coaches usually want answers more than questions. LSU has made progress in several areas, but the line remains the spot fans will keep watching closely until the first real test arrives. [Read more 🡒]