Four WVU players sue NCAA over eligibility rules
West Virginia has joined the growing list of programs challenging the NCAA’s transfer eligibility restrictions, as four Mountaineer football players have filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking immediate clearance to play this season. The legal action was first reported by Sam Ehrlich of The College Sports Litigation Tracker.
The plaintiffs: Jimmori Robinson, Jeffrey Weimer, Tye Edwards, and Justin Harrington, all transferred to WVU this spring and have been waiting on waivers for fall eligibility. With no rulings yet, the group is now taking legal action.
Their complaint, filed August 1, goes well beyond typical eligibility arguments. It asserts that the NCAA is violating antitrust law by penalizing athletes who begin their careers at junior colleges or other non-NCAA schools, a set of rules the suit refers to as the “JUCO Penalty.”
The filing says the plaintiffs relied on public guidance issued by the NCAA last December that appeared to loosen those restrictions. Instead, they allege the waiver process remains arbitrary and selectively enforced.
Key legal claims include:
- Antitrust violations under both federal and West Virginia law, including essential facilities and “pride of place” theories
- Breach of contract, arguing players are third-party beneficiaries of NCAA membership agreements
- Promissory estoppel, claiming athletes were misled by the NCAA’s published guidance
- Tortious interference with their opportunities at WVU and with NIL-related contracts
The players are seeking an injunction to allow them to play this fall, along with damages and a ruling that strikes down the relevant NCAA rules.
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