The Court of Appeals of Indiana has denied the NCAA’s emergency motion to stay an injunction that keeps Kansas basketball forward Tre White and 93 other plaintiffs eligible for a fifth year of eligibility.
The ruling, issued Friday by Court of Appeals Chief Judge Elizabeth F. Tavitas, means the injunction remains in place while the broader eligibility case continues. The decision gives White and the other plaintiffs a temporary win in a legal fight that has already produced several twists, including an Oct. 1 ruling from the Indiana Supreme Court that rejected one NCAA effort to move the matter directly to the state’s highest court.
What the ruling means
For now, White remains eligible, along with the rest of the 94-plaintiff group covered by the injunction. The case centers on athletes seeking a fifth year of eligibility, and the court’s refusal to pause the order keeps that relief intact during the appeal process.
That matters because some trial courts’ injunctions in similar eligibility cases have been stayed upon appeal. In this instance, the Court of Appeals of Indiana chose not to do that, leaving the injunction in place as the case works through the legal system.
Why it matters for Kansas
The decision is especially relevant for KU, where White is part of the current basketball conversation and Clifton Thompson debuted for the Jayhawks last weekend in their loss to Utah. White’s status now remains unchanged while the broader lawsuit moves forward, and the same is true for KU football players Chase Belcher and Clifton Thompson, who are also included among the plaintiffs.
The NCAA filed an appeal in New York on Thursday, adding another layer to a case that could still continue to trial if there are no further appeals. For now, though, the key point is simple: the injunction stands, and White remains eligible as the legal battle continues.
