Michigan guard Kenny Noland is cleared to play this season, at least for now, after Monroe Circuit Court Judge Kara E. Krothe granted a preliminary injunction in the Indiana state lawsuit against the NCAA.
That ruling makes the plaintiffs eligible for competition while the case moves toward trial. Noland, who had been traveling with Michigan but not appearing in games while his status was unresolved, can take the floor pending further legal action.
A Columbia graduate, Noland joined Michigan from the transfer portal in August. The 6-foot-2 point guard averaged 17.1 points, 3.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game as a senior. His role became even more important after five-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. tore his ACL on the Wolverines’ international trip.
Noland was one of 97 players included in the Monroe County lawsuit seeking an additional year of eligibility. The latest ruling gives him temporary clearance, though that could change as the case continues.
The order also prevents the NCAA from enforcing its restitution rule, which would otherwise let the association vacate wins or penalize schools that use athletes under a court order that is later overturned. That protection applies to Michigan and any team that faces Noland.
Krothe’s decision centered on the NCAA’s 2026-27 manual, which provides five years of eligibility from enrollment or age 19 and does not specifically exclude the Class of 2022. The injunction stays in place until the case reaches trial.
Michigan is also pursuing a fifth season for Roddy Gayle Jr. Gayle has already been granted a temporary restraining order, and a hearing Thursday, Sept. 24, will decide whether he gets a preliminary injunction.
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