Judge Katherine Crytzer denied University of Tennessee student-athlete Zakai Zeigler’s request for a preliminary injunction in his lawsuit against the NCAA.
According to WVLT, Zeigler sued the NCAA over the organization’s four-year eligibility rules. Zeigler just completed his fourth season of eligibility with the Vols, and regardless of whether or not he has completed his degree, he is no longer eligible to play college basketball.
Judge Katherine Crytzer denied University of Tennessee student-athlete Zakai Zeigler’s request for a preliminary injunction in his lawsuit against the NCAA.
According to WVLT, Zeigler sued the NCAA over the organization’s four-year eligibility rules. Zeigler just completed his fourth season of eligibility with the Vols, and regardless of whether or not he has completed his degree, he is no longer eligible to play college basketball.
Zeigler, who has made more than $1 million through name, image and likeness opportunities, argued that the NCAA rules are limiting his ability to capitalize on NIL deals and future profits. But the court sided with the NCAA, saying, “’the current state of the law’ was that independent third-party NIL collectives and individual brands control NIL compensation to NCAA Division I basketball players — which players get paid and how much they get paid — not the NCAA.”
In handing down this ruling, the judge effectively told Zeigler that it is the NIL collectives that control the market and connect athletes with business opportunities, not the NCAA. The court also ruled that the NCAA’s four seasons of eligibility is a matter of policy, not law and therefore not under the court’s jurisdiction.
Related: Rutgers Recruit Sues NCAA Over Five-Year Rule and $500K NIL Deal
Zeigler’s attorney released a statement that read, “We are disappointed the Court declined to grant a preliminary injunction on the basis that the NCAA does not directly control NIL compensation, just days after the House settlement confirmed they would do exactly that.”
The court’s ruling is somewhat of a surprise after several athletes have sued the NCAA for additional eligibility and won in recent months and years. Diego Pavia, quarterback for Vanderbilt University, sued the NCAA for an additional season of eligibility and won. And Jett Elad followed suit, suing the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility to play with Rutgers University and capitalize on a six-figure NIL deal.
Zeigler’s attorney told WVLT that his legal team would press forward and pursue another legal challenge to win the best opportunities for Zeigler.
