This weekend, an injunction was filed on behalf of many student-athletes from the 2022 recruiting class, fighting to be granted a fifth year of NCAA eligibility.
The case centers around the NCAA’s newly implemented 5-in-5 rule, which allows incoming collegiate athletes five years to complete five seasons of competition, eliminating the need for a traditional redshirt year. In other words, if you redshirt your first season, it still counts as one of your five years.
Advertisement
On paper, that sounds like a nice, black-and-white solution in an era where college athletics often feels like the Wild West.
The problem is that the classes of 2021 and 2022 are being left out.
Those two graduating classes will not be grandfathered into the new 5-in-5 rule and, unfortunately, will be the final classes limited to just four years of eligibility. They are sandwiched between the COVID-19 class, which received an extra year because of the pandemic, and the classes of 2023 and beyond, which now benefit from the new rule.
That understandably hasn’t sat well with many players from the 2022 class, who have been fighting for the opportunity to return to college basketball for one more season. For some, that extra year could come with NIL opportunities that could genuinely change their lives.
Advertisement
One of the players leading that fight is former Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler.
Most people would’ve assumed that if Kohler were granted another season of eligibility, he would simply return to East Lansing.
After all, Kohler never wavered during his four seasons under Tom Izzo. At a time when the transfer portal has become the norm across college basketball, Kohler remained loyal to Michigan State year after year. It would’ve seemed like a natural fit for him to return for one final season in the Green and White.
As much as Kohler and Spartan fans may want that to happen, however, it appears the situation may be much more complicated.
Advertisement
College basketball rosters are now capped at 15 scholarship players, and Michigan State’s roster is already full. That includes a strong core of returning players along with four incoming freshmen.
At this point, it doesn’t appear that any of those roster spots are expendable, even for the Spartans’ leading rebounder from last season.
Instead, Kohler may already be exploring another destination.
This is purely rumor-based, but according to College Basketball Content on social media:
“NEW: Michigan State captain Jaxon Kohler is in heavy contact with BYU and likely to transfer there if his injunction for a 5th year is granted, per BYU Cougars Wire. Kohler has been spotted playing pickup with BYU this offseason and recently finished playing in Summer League for the Utah Jazz.”
Advertisement
If there’s any truth to that report, it would indicate that Kohler’s return to college basketball could happen—just not back at Michigan State.
There are several possible reasons for that. It could simply be that the Spartans aren’t willing or able to open a roster spot. It could also come down to NIL, with BYU potentially presenting a financial opportunity that Michigan State either can’t or won’t match.
Whatever the reason may be, it’s certainly not something many Michigan State fans expected to hear.
This is a story worth monitoring because the outcome of this injunction could have a major impact across all of college basketball. If these players are ultimately granted another year of eligibility, dozens of experienced players could suddenly re-enter the college game, creating a ripple effect throughout the sport.
And if that includes Jaxon Kohler returning to college basketball—but not returning to Michigan State—that certainly wasn’t on my bingo card for 2026.
