Tennessee Volunteers point guard Zakai Zeigler has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, seeking a fifth year of eligibility for the 2025–26 basketball season. Zeigler, who graduated in May 2025, argues that the NCAA’s redshirt rule—which grants a fifth season only to players who sit out a year—unfairly restricts his ability to benefit from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities. He contends that all athletes should be eligible to compete and earn NIL compensation within the five-year eligibility window, not just those granted a redshirt year.
The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of Tennessee, seeks a preliminary injunction allowing Zeigler to play during the upcoming season. Zeigler claims he could lose between $2 million and $4 million in potential NIL earnings if denied the opportunity to play. He previously earned $500,000 in NIL deals during the 2024–25 season and has secured a $15 million endorsement deal with EA Sports for their upcoming release, College Basketball 26 .
Zeigler’s legal team also argues that the NCAA’s eligibility rules violate federal and state antitrust laws. If successful, the lawsuit could set a precedent allowing all collegiate athletes five seasons of play, potentially impacting future roster decisions across the country
The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the future of college athletics and the evolving landscape of NIL compensation.
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