New court ruling opens transfer portal 16 college football players
· Yahoo Sports
Understanding eligibility in college athletics, particularly in football, can be quite complex, as there seems to be a new court ruling almost daily that alters the rules for specific groups of players.
That was the case Wednesday evening, when a Louisiana judge granted a group of former college athletes, including 16 football players, a temporary restraining order allowing them to return to college for the 2026 season.
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Since the ruling was announced, many of those players have entered the transfer portal, as the ruling specifically stated that the "NCAA is ordered to open the transfer portal for all plaintiffs for one week from entry of this order."
Notable football players included former Ole Miss DT Zxavian Harris, Ole Miss safety Wydett Williams, James Madison linebacker Trent Hendrick, Oregon State and former Colorado running back Anthony Hankerson.
Several of the players named in the lawsuit, including Hankerson, are currently in training camp with NFL teams, complicating matters. Per the signed order, if those players are released by NFL teams by Sept. 1, they could join a college team for the upcoming season.
NEWS: A judge in Louisiana has granted a group that includes 16 football player --including several in NFL training camps this summer -- a restraining order to allows them to return to college sports this season, per me and @DanMurphyESPN. pic.twitter.com/fUMzBolvbp
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 19, 2026
How this could affect Colorado football
Colorado currently has only one open roster spot, which is earmarked for Ezra Christensen, who is going through his own eligibility case with his lawyer, who recently gave an update that the court is still working on an order for the pending motion.
From a pure need standpoint, Zxavian Harris would shoot to the top of the list, considering he is a 6-foot-7, 350-pound defensive tackle and would fill the biggest need on CU's roster should Christensen not gain another season of eligibility. Harris racked up 58 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks and an interception last season with the Rebels.
While Harris is a near-perfect football fit, he does have off-field issues, including a DUI and an arrest for domestic violence, that are nonstarters for most programs, including Deion Sanders and Colorado.
Considering all the factors at play, it is unlikely that Wednesday's ruling will cause any roster movement in Boulder, with CU prioritizing keeping its final roster spot open for Christensen.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: New court ruling opens transfer portal 16 college football players