Oklahoma AD Roger Denny releases statement on Owen Heinecke’s eligibility ruling
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Oklahoma AD Roger Denny on Thursday commented on a Cleveland County (Okla.) judge’s ruling in favor of Owen Heinecke, striking down an NCAA ruling that would have prevented the former college lacrosse player turned second-team All-SEC linebacker from returning to Norman in 2026.
“We are grateful for today’s decision. This is a fair outcome for a young man who handled this process with integrity and resilience,” Benndy said in a statement. “We’re proud to stand with Owen and look forward to supporting him as he returns to competition in a Sooner uniform.”
The NCAA argued that the season Heinecke spent on the Ohio State men’s lacrosse roster (2021) before walking on to the Sooners’ football roster as a PWO should have counted against his eligibility. After the Tulsa native redshirted in 2022 and saw limited playing time in 2023 and 2024, he emerged as one of the conference’s top LBs in 2025.
That should have been the end of his college career, with the NCAA originally ruling against his appeal for a sixth and final year in February. Heinecke and his legal team, though, continued to pursue the matter. On Thursday, he — and the Sooners — received the good news they were waiting for.
Heinicke’s return means that an anchor in Oklahoma‘s defense from its College Football Playoff appearance in 2025 is back in the fold. And while he was projected as a late-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, he could be a player in high demand come 2027.
Can Heinicke and the Sooners return to the CFP in 2026? Kalshi is taking action on who will make up the 12-team field.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
