North Carolina judge denies injunction in NC State DB Corey Coley's eligibility case vs. NCAA

NC State defensive back Corey Coley has been embroiled in a lawsuit with the NCAA over a fifth year of eligibility. He received his answer on Friday, as a North Carolina judge denied his motion for a preliminary injunction.

According to the ruling, shared to X by Sam C. Ehrlich, “Coley’s reply contains impermissible new arguments that Coley failed to raise in his opening brief. Thus, the court grants the NCAA’s motion to disregard portions of Coley’s reply,” the document read.

“Moreover, Coley has failed to demonstrate his entitlement to an extraordinary, mandatory preliminary injunction requiring the NCAA to permit Coley an additional year of eligibility and enjoining the NCAA from enforcing the Challenged Bylaws against Coley. Accordingly, the court denies Coley’s request for a preliminary injunction.”

And now we have a decision on an eligibility rule lawsuit: Judge Dever of E.D.N.C. has denied NC State DB Corey Coley's motion for a preliminary injunction.

His ruling rests in large part on a finding that eligibility rules are non-commercial and not subject to the Sherman Act. pic.twitter.com/FPmgGNfdp3

— Sam C. Ehrlich (@samcehrlich) June 6, 2025

Previously, Coley’s hardship waiver was denied by the NCAA. He suffered multiple injuries during the 2024 season, and only played in six games for the Wolfpack. Coley amassed 10 tackles and two pass deflections with two starts.

If Coley won his lawsuit, he was planning to return to NC State for another season, according to R. Corey Smith. What happens now remains to be seen for the Wolfpack defender.

Taking a broader look at the situation, Ehrlich explained how the ruling is part of a larger issue, where there’s a split in how the courts are looking at situations like Coley’s: “We very clearly have a split in how courts are looking at eligibility rules,” he posted on X. “Pavia/Elad found they must be seen as commercial post-Alston. Goldstein and now Coley found that Alston didn’t change this.

“Others found there isn’t enough info at the preliminary injunction stage. We’re obviously well past the point where we need appellate intervention.”

It remains to be seen, but Corey Coley’s situation is certainly one that college football players will look toward. They’re trying to evaluate the ever-changing landscape of the sport, and a straight answer isn’t always available, it seems.