Zakai Zeigler denied preliminary injunction in NCAA eligibility case
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Zakai Zeigler has been denied a preliminary injunction for a 5th season of NCAA eligibility.
The U.S. District Court ruling was issued Thursday.
This is the big one: A Tennessee court denies a preliminary injunction in the eligibility case brought by Tennessee basketball player Zakai Zeigler. pic.twitter.com/2Cr3xqvMci
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) June 12, 2025
While many NCAA eligibility cases have focused on non-DI seasons, Zeigler took a more fundamental approach. Zeigler challenged the NCAA’s redshirt rule allowing only 4 full seasons of eligibility in a 5-year window. Like other athletes who have taken to the courts to challenge NCAA eligibility rules, Zeigler cited NIL opportunities for 5th-year athletes. Zeigler also pointed out that many athletes recently received 5 full seasons due to the COVID-19 waiver.
The court, however, did not see the argument fit for a preliminary injunction to allow Zeigler to play in the 2025-26 college basketball season.
Here is what the judge had to say about the Tennessee state law, and also why the injunction failed for Zakai Zeigler pic.twitter.com/dIEDYyo9bv
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) June 12, 2025
Despite Thursday’s setback, it appears Zeigler is not done fighting for a 5th season.
Over 4 seasons, Zeigler played in 138 games for Tennessee, making 83 starts. He was a 37-game starter as a senior, playing 34.2 minutes per game. Zeigler averaged career-highs of 13.6 points and 7.4 assists per game in UT’s 2024-25 campaign, earning SEC Defensive Player of the Year recognition.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
