Clemson wide receiver Tristan Smith isn’t just fighting for playing time-he’s fighting for the right to play at all. The 6-foot-5 pass catcher has taken his battle to the courtroom, filing a lawsuit against the NCAA in hopes of securing one more year of eligibility to suit up for the Tigers in 2026.
The suit, filed in Pickens County, South Carolina, argues that the NCAA has unfairly applied its five-year eligibility rule to Smith by counting his junior college years against that clock. According to Smith and his legal team, that’s not how it’s been handled for other athletes with similar JUCO backgrounds. They're calling it selective enforcement-and they’re taking their case to court to prove it.
Smith, 22, made the jump to Clemson in 2025 after a stint at FCS Southeast Missouri State. It didn’t take long for him to make an impression in Death Valley.
In his first season with the Tigers, he hauled in 24 catches for 239 yards and a touchdown across 13 games. While those numbers may not leap off the stat sheet, they hint at a bigger upside-especially when you consider his size, athleticism, and the flashes he showed in key moments.
Clemson fans quickly embraced him as a player with high potential and even higher energy.
But the NCAA sees his college timeline differently. Before SEMO, Smith played two seasons at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas (2022 and 2023), followed by one at SEMO in 2024.
That makes 2025 his fourth year of college football, and under the NCAA’s five-year rule-which gives athletes five calendar years to play four seasons-his clock is nearly up. The NCAA denied his initial waiver request to play in 2026, prompting the legal action.
Smith is represented by Darren Heitner, a well-known sports attorney with deep experience in NIL matters, and Mark Peper, a Charleston-based lawyer. Heitner publicly criticized the NCAA’s decision, calling it “arbitrary” and pointing out that other players with junior college experience have been granted waivers to extend their eligibility. In other words, the precedent exists-Smith just wants the same treatment.
The legal team also filed a motion for a temporary restraining order, which would have allowed Smith to participate in team activities while the case plays out. That motion was denied. The judge opted to wait for a full hearing before deciding whether to grant any form of injunctive relief.
Smith’s lawsuit is straightforward in its request: he wants an official ruling that his junior college years shouldn’t count against his eligibility, and that he should be cleared to play for Clemson in the 2026-2027 season. He’s not asking for multiple seasons or special treatment-just one more year to finish what he started.
There’s also a financial angle to all of this. Smith’s legal team estimates he stands to lose between $300,000 and $600,000 in NIL and revenue-sharing opportunities if he’s barred from playing in 2026. For a player who’s worked his way up from the JUCO ranks to the Power Five stage, that kind of money isn’t just a bonus-it’s life-changing.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has publicly backed Smith throughout the process, saying the program would welcome him back in 2026 and is willing to see the legal process through. That kind of support speaks volumes-not just about Smith’s impact on the field, but the kind of teammate and person he’s been since arriving on campus.
This case could have broader implications for how the NCAA handles eligibility for players who take the junior college route. But for now, it’s about one player, one team, and one more shot at the game he’s worked years to play at the highest level.
Smith’s fight is far from over. But if there’s one thing his journey has shown, it’s that he’s not backing down easily.