The latest story in the eligibility saga of the NCAA has hit Florida Gators HC Todd Golden’s basketball team.
The Florida Gators basketball team has taken a big hit ahead of the 2026-2027 season, as eligibility rules have once again taken a step backward. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay to the NCAA, which won’t allow the class of 2022 to take advantage of the five-for-five rule.
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This will hit the Gators a little harder than other programs, as they were banking on guard Denzel Aberdeen to play for them this season.
Denzel Aberdeen is once again ineligible
It’s a tough blow for the Gators, but one that wasn’t unexpected. This saga has been brewing for months, with players starting to return to campus after signing NFL contracts. After 16 players in the state of Louisiana were granted a temporary restraining order, they will still be eligible for the time being.
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The NCAA released a statement to membership on the matter, claiming they won’t punish schools that added players that are now ineligible.
“The Association will separately continue to defend other similar putative class action lawsuits and the state court cases that have been filed by former student-athletes seeking additional eligibility and expeditiously appeal any cases where former student-athletes have, or will, be granted additional eligibility through separate state court rulings.
“… Institutions will not have violations for any class members who were allowed to compete consistent with the scope of the Wisne injunction prior to the stay being granted, and those former student-athletes are no longer eligible under the Wisne injunction.”
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What does that for Aberdeen? It likely means that he will have to take a new approach in order to regain eligibility. Being that the players with temporary restraining orders have retained their eligibility, that may have to be where Aberdeen goes next.
If it doesn’t work, it’s a tough spot for the Gators to be in.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Florida Gators HC Todd Golden dealt brutal news ahead of the 2026 season, but its not over yet
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