Friday’s court rulings in Ohio and Kentucky just pulled the rug out from under multiple college football and basketball players, leaving them without eligibility for the 2026-27 season, at least for right now. The biggest headline hitting the wires? Texas Tech quarterback Thomas Castellanos, reportedly impacted by the Kentucky ruling, is now out for Saturday’s game against Colorado. Talk about a sudden turn for the 12th-ranked Red Raiders, especially when they’re sitting pretty at 4-0 and trying to return to the College Football Playoff.
The QB Room Chaos In Lubbock
Castellanos had been serving as the backup to starting quarterback Will Hammond throughout Texas Tech’s undefeated start to the season. This isn’t just some random backup, either. The Red Raiders went out and got Castellanos after their previous quarterback, Brendan Sorsby, got ruled ineligible for the 2026 season because of a gambling scandal. Castellanos himself transferred to Lubbock from Florida State after getting a temporary restraining order way back on July 31st. You can bet the Red Raiders were hoping this would be a smooth ride, especially with their sights set on defending their Big 12 title. Losing a key piece like this, even a backup, when you’re 4-0 and dreaming of the CFP? That’s a gut punch.
Across the NCAA: More Eligibility Rollercoaster Rides
It’s not just Texas Tech feeling the sting. These Friday court rulings impacted several college basketball programs too. Over in Ohio, Cincinnati’s MJ Collins was deemed ineligible. Collins had followed coach Jerrod Calhoun from Utah State to Cincinnati, and get this, he finished fourth among all Mountain West players in scoring last season, dropping 17.5 points per game. That’s a massive hole for Cincinnati to fill!
The Kentucky ruling also hit hard, making Missouri’s Mark Mitchell, Louisville’s Seth Trimble, and LSU’s Skyy Clark ineligible, among others. Mitchell had returned to Missouri, while Trimble transferred to Louisville after playing four seasons at ACC rival North Carolina. And Clark? He was hoping to play at a fourth school in five seasons. What a whirlwind for these guys, only to have their eligibility yanked, even if it’s just for now.
Here’s the kicker, though: every single one of these decisions, from Castellanos to Collins and all the basketball players, remains temporary. This ain’t over. You know every player and every program is fighting tooth and nail to get these guys back on the field and court. For now, it’s a waiting game, but the fallout is immediate and already shaking up the college sports landscape. Keep an eye on this, because we’re far from seeing the final whistle on these eligibility battles.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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