Trey Campbell suited up in a No. 9 jersey and hit the court at the Huntsman Center this Monday, diving into the Runnin’ Utes’ first official practice for the 2026-27 season. But here’s the gut punch: it’s still unclear if this guard, an all-league talent from Northern Iowa, will actually be allowed to play for Utah this year. The NCAA is in the middle of a legal tug-of-war, and Campbell’s fifth year of eligibility is caught right in the crossfire.
Roster Shake-Up Hits the Hardwood
Monday was buzzing for second-year coach Alex Jensen and his staff. After a frustrating 2025-26 campaign that saw the Utes crawl to a 10-22 record overall and dead last in the Big 12 at 2-16, they’re practically starting from scratch. Only three players from last season’s 16-man roster are back in Salt Lake City. Jensen said his staff put “more thought into the roster and how the pieces fit together” this time around, but he knows the real answers only come on the court. You just don’t know the rotations until they’re playing, right? We even saw forwards Alec Anigbata and Zati Loubaki driving to the basket in practice, showing off some of the new blood. It’s clear the team is trying to turn the page, but this eligibility cloud hangs heavy.
NCAA’s New Rules Are a Mess
The NCAA dropped a new rule for Division I athletes this academic season, giving them five years to play five seasons. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. The problem is for guys like Trey Campbell, who were part of the 2022 recruiting class and already completed four seasons. The NCAA didn’t grandfather that class into the new rule, sparking a ton of legal battles over these fifth-year appeals. Coach Jensen isn’t pulling punches on the absurdity of it all, saying, “I like to think I operate on a logical level. I don’t know all the rules. I’m not a law guy, but it just seems like it makes sense for some guys to get the year.” He even mentioned that “a lot of schools assumed that there’s going to be a rule in place with their roster and it wasn’t quite the case.” It’s a huge headache for teams trying to build a competitive roster, leaving them in limbo.
With 42 days until the Utes kick off their season against Long Beach State on November 2, the clock is ticking on Campbell’s eligibility. Will he be cleared to play, or will this team be fighting for wins without a key piece they’re already practicing with? This isn’t just about one player; it’s about the entire roster’s chemistry and how they can improve on last year’s dismal showing. Let’s hope the NCAA gets its act together so these athletes can just play ball!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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