Owen Heinecke’s Eligibility Denied by NCAA, But NFL Door Remains Wide Open
Owen Heinecke’s fight for a sixth year of college eligibility just hit a major roadblock. On Thursday night, the NCAA officially denied his petition to return to Oklahoma for the 2026 season - a decision that’s raised more than a few eyebrows across the college football landscape.
The news came straight from Sooners general manager Jim Nagy, who voiced his frustration on social media. And let’s just say, he didn’t hold back.
“When other players are being granted seventh and eighth years of football, (college football) governing body has ruled Owen won't get a fourth year,” Nagy wrote. “Evidently, this walk-on's three games of lacrosse at Ohio State in 2021 couldn't be reconciled.
There will be an appeal. If that appeal is denied, one lucky NFL team is going to get a stud two-contract player and an even better human being.”
Heinecke’s story isn’t your typical college football journey. He started out at Ohio State - not on the gridiron, but on the lacrosse field. In 2021, he saw action in three games for the Buckeyes before making a massive pivot: trading in his stick for shoulder pads and walking on at Oklahoma the following offseason.
He didn’t see the field in 2022, but by 2023 and 2024, Heinecke was suiting up in every game for the Sooners, carving out a key role on special teams. This past season, though, is when things really took off. Heinecke broke into the two-deep and became one of Oklahoma’s most impactful defenders during a 10-3 campaign that saw the Sooners punch their ticket back to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019.
Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing in at 227 pounds, Heinecke brought physicality and instincts to the inside linebacker spot. He started the final five games of the season - including the CFP showdown against Alabama - and racked up 74 total tackles, just two shy of team leader Kip Lewis. Add in 12 tackles for loss, three sacks, four pass breakups, a forced fumble, 15 total pressures, and 31 run stops, and it’s clear why he earned second-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press.
That kind of production, especially after starting the season as a rotational piece, speaks volumes about Heinecke’s development and resilience. He didn’t just earn playing time - he earned trust, responsibility, and eventually, accolades.
Now, with the NCAA saying no to his sixth year, Heinecke and his camp aren’t done fighting. He’s appealing the decision, and during a recent appearance on the Oklahoma Breakdown podcast with former Sooners Teddy Lehman and Gabe Ikard, he shared that his family has retained legal counsel to help navigate the appeal process. If that fails, he could pursue legal action in the form of an injunction or temporary restraining order to try to stay in Norman for one more season.
But while one door is closing, another remains wide open.
Heinecke has been down in Mobile this week, taking part in Senior Bowl practices and putting himself on full display for NFL scouts. And make no mistake - he’s on radars. His tape from the back half of the season speaks for itself, and his trajectory is the kind that evaluators love: a hard-nosed, high-IQ linebacker who climbed the depth chart the old-fashioned way and made the most of every rep.
Whether the NCAA reconsiders or not, Owen Heinecke’s football story is far from finished. If his college chapter ends here, there’s a good chance the next one begins on Sundays.