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Federal Courts Lean Toward Striking NCAA JUCO Eligibility Restrictions

Say rules give NCAA schools an unfair advantage in recruiting competition over non-NCAA institutions

Author

Steve Ulrich
August 22, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes

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AUGUST 22, 2025 | composed by STEVE ULRICH
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🗞️ In Today’s Edition. Federal Courts Lean Toward Striking NCAA JUCO Eligibility Restrictions. 58-Year-Old Tackles College Football Dreams at Lycoming. Battle of the Bands - The Sweet 16. “Fibermaxxing”

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TOP STORY

1. Federal Courts Lean Toward Striking NCAA JUCO Eligibility Restrictions

by Amanda Christovich, Front Office Sports

“In the federal court battle over NCAA eligibility rules, the NCAA appears to be losing in one specific category: junior college.

On Wednesday, a federal judge granted four West Virginia football players extra eligibility to play for the Mountaineers this season, ruling that the years they played in JUCO shouldn’t count toward NCAA eligibility.”

» Field Awareness. “[The athletes] all played at least one full season of junior college before transferring to various NCAA institutions - and found themselves together at West Virginia this summer without any remaining eligibility. On Aug. 1, they became the latest group of athletes to sue the NCAA on antitrust grounds, arguing that its rule stating junior college play counts toward NCAA eligibility violates federal antitrust laws - and that they shouldn’t count toward the five-year eligibility completion clock.”

» The Bottom Line. “The judge also found that the rules give NCAA schools an unfair advantage in recruiting competition over non-NCAA institutions, because they force players to push for NCAA opportunities so they don’t exhaust future eligibility elsewhere.”

» Yes, But. “The NCAA issued a fiery statement opposing the ruling, saying it “will lead to high school students losing opportunities to compete in college athletics,” presumably arguing that if more players can stay in college longer, there will be fewer roster spots for incoming freshmen. The NCAA also argues that “it erodes the academic standards that have for decades ensured student-athletes obtained an education.”

» Be Smart. “The various rulings are setting up the potential for a “circuit split,” where two federal appeals courts issue conflicting rulings on one subject. In that case, the Supreme Court may be willing to take up the issue.”

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FOOTBALL
2. Tom Cillo, 58, Tackles College Football Dreams at Lycoming

by Laura Ulrich, NorthCentralPA.com

“Williamsport native Tom Cillo has spent much of his life on the streets of the city, finding new paths for himself around each corner.

First, he was a young boy walking from his childhood home, just two blocks from Lycoming College, down through campus to the YMCA for basketball or swimming.

Later, he was a man working three decades for the City of Williamsport’s streets department. Now, at 58 years old, those streets have led him back to the same campus he once visited every day as a child.”

» Driving The News. “This time, he isn't just passing through — he’s suiting up as a defensive lineman for the Lycoming College Warriors. Cillo retired after 33 years of city work, having held roles from truck driver to general manager of the streets department. After a short stint working at Williamsport Area High School as a custodian, and refereeing local high school basketball games, he found himself restless.”

» Quotable. “I don’t know if ‘bored’ is the word I would use — just mundane, you know?” he said. “I was going through the same motions day after day and I felt like I needed a change. And what does a 58-year-old dude do when they want change? They go play college football, right?”

» What They’re Saying. “I may not see much playing time to be quite honest,” he said. “But I’m just happy to be a part of this — happy to be part of a team setting. There are so many talented people out there that maybe somebody else’s voice was just a little bit louder, or it could have been their own self-doubt. I just want to encourage people: if it falls within the framework of your talents or your desire, and you feel like you could pull it off — go for it. Don’t hold yourself back.”

FIGHT SONGS
3. Battle of the Bands - The Sweet 16

It’s the bi-annual D3Playbook “Best Fight Song” competition. Two-time defending champion Adrian looks to “three-peat” and has advanced to the Sweet 16, but 15 other fight songs look to knock the Bulldogs from their throne.

» How to Vote. Click on each school’s link to listen to the song. Then go to the D3Playbook twitter site and cast your vote for the winning song in each matchup. The Sweet 16 is scheduled for today and Monday, with the Elite 8 set for next Tuesday. The semifinals will be held on August 27 with the championship matchup set for August 28.

Friday

Monday

» Bottom Right Bracket. Central vs. UW-Whitewater; Simpson vs. Washington and Lee

NEWS YOU CAN USE
4. Lightning Round ⚡️ 

» News. The U.S. Department of Education is investigating Haverford College in Pennsylvania over allegations the institution hasn’t done enough to respond to campus antisemitism. The investigation focuses on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination based on race, color or national origin at institutions that receive federal funds.

TRANSACTIONS
5. Comings and Goings 

1 THING
6. "Fibermaxxing" Is Trending, But Don't Overdo It

by Carly Mallenbaum, Axios

“On TikTok, users are eating a ton of dietary fiber, but making it sound cool: They're "fibermaxxing."

Why it matters: Most Americans fall short of their daily fiber needs, so a viral push to increase intake could help close the gap. That said, "you can get too much of a good thing," says registered dietitian nutritionist Janet Helm.

Yes, but: "Where the trend has gone too far for me" is when people are consuming more than the recommended 25 to 38 grams for adults, Helm says. Eating too much too fast could cause bloat, gas and diarrhea, she says.”

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