Photo: Tony Rotundo
Levi Haines' college career appears to be over.
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the NCAA on Friday in the eligibility case covering Class of 2022 athletes who competed four straight seasons without redshirting. That means the two-time NCAA champion will not be eligible to wrestle for Penn State in 2026-27, unless a new and different legal ruling changes it, according to On3's Greg Pickel.
It's a tough break for Haines, who just won Senior World gold in Astana last week.
How We Got Here
- June: The NCAA changed its eligibility rules from five years to compete in four seasons to five years to compete in five seasons, starting this school year. Class of 2022 athletes who didn't qualify filed a wave of lawsuits. Haines did not join any of them.
- July: A Colorado court ruling granted a blanket waiver for all Class of 2022 athletes to compete one more season, which made Haines eligible to return.
- August: The NCAA won its appeal, and Haines became ineligible again.
- Mid-October: The plaintiffs appealed to the 10th Circuit, which heard arguments.
- Nov. 6: The 10th Circuit ruled for the NCAA.
Haines could still file a new lawsuit at the state or federal level, but On3 reports that seems unlikely.
What Cael Said
At Penn State's media day on Oct. 20, Cael Sanderson said the program was waiting on the courts like everyone else, while Haines prepared in case he got the chance:
"[Levi] is in class right now. He'd probably rather not be in class, but he's preparing just in case he gets that opportunity. But yeah, just like anybody else, we're just waiting to hear the final word. It's been a pretty wild five years of ups and downs and changes and twists and turns."
What It Means for Penn State's Lineup
If Haines had been eligible, the expectation was that he'd return at 174, with Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165 and Tyler Kasak at 157.
Without him, On3 expects Penn State to go with:
- 157: Tyler Kasak
- 165: PJ Duke
- 174: Mitchell Mesenbrink
Penn State opens its season Thursday, Nov. 12, against Bloomsburg at Rec Hall (7 p.m. ET, B1G+).