With the new NCAA ruling regarding player eligibility changes, a handful of seniors from this year's class are vying to be grandfathered into this new rule.
Basically, the new rule, called the "5-for-5" rule, is an age-based eligibility model. It grants student-athletes up to five years of competition eligibility that are to be played within five academic years.
Even though there was some speculation that the NCAA could grant this year's senior class an additional year, that isn't the case. However, that hasn't stopped players from trying to get that ruling overturned.
One of these student-athletes is a former Tar Heel who fans try very hard to forget about.
Cade Tyson among a group of players suing the NCAA
Cade Tyson, who spent one season at North Carolina, is among a group of players who are suing the NCAA over the "5-for-5" ruling. He, along with the other players who are part of the suit, hope that they can convince a judge to overturn the ruling, providing them one more season of eligibility at the collegiate level.
NEW: Minnesota Transfer SF Cade Tyson is among a group of players suing the NCAA over the 5-5 ruling, 1st reported by @samcehrlich
— Dylan (@BigBlueDylan) July 14, 2026
Kentucky is rumored to be among the programs with interest in Cade if he gets cleared for his 5th year, I’ve been told.#BBN #KentuckyBasketball pic.twitter.com/txhLTJf7OB
Following the conclusion of the 2025-2026 season, we saw a handful of seniors, who have exhausted their eligibility, enter the transfer portal. This was a strategy used to keep their options open in case they were somehow granted an additional season of eligibility.
Tyson, along with his former UNC teammate Seth Trimble, both entered their name in the portal while preparing for the NBA Draft. Both went undrafted, but Trimble quickly signed with the Washington Wizards for NBA Summer League action while Tyson hasn't sign with anyone up to this point.
Based on that factor alone, it seems that not only is Tyson looking to stay in college for one more season, but believes he has a good chance of winning his case.
One thing is for sure: North Carolina will not be his destination for his potential fifth season. We already lived through that nightmare once, and that was very much enough.
Michael Malone and UNC earn an official visit from a coveted 2027 five-star recruit
Tyson did rebound nicely at Minnesota, averaging 19.6 points per game last season. He was able to get back to the type of player he was previously at Belmont, but his one year in Chapel Hill was an absolute bust.
Funny enough, Kentucky, a fellow Blue Blood program, is expected to have interest if Tyson becomes available. It's safe to say that other programs in need of a sharpshooting forward will also throw their hats in the mix in what could be the latest round of craziness that college free agency could have to offer.
For now, this is something to keep an eye on. If these rulings start to go in the players' favor, it could simply open the floodgates for even more players to sue for their eligibility, something that could become difficult to deny as more players win their respective cases.
Basically, the NCAA remains an absolute mess, and the backlash on this new ruling from the senior class is just adding to the chaos.
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