We were all waiting to see which college football programs would potentially add players to their roster during the season via a court ruling, and now we might have our answer.
The Michigan Wolverines are on the cusp of dipping into the transfer portal and signing two players who could help them at multiple positions this season. Yes, I said this season.
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Thanks to a temporary restraining order granted by a Washtenaw County Circuit Court Judge, former Miami Hurricanes tight end Alex Bauman and former Boise State defensive back Jeremiah Earby are now legally allowed to play this season.
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In fact, both are reportedly enrolled at Michigan, after a judge in the state granted them the ability to be rostered.
The temporary restraining order allowed each player to enter the transfer portal, though it’s not a coincidence that they were granted these orders within the Ann Arbor area.
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If you’re wondering how Earby and Bauman would be allowed a return to college football, based off the professional rules established by the Big Ten conference, it all hinges on the fact that neither player signed with an NFL team.
Boise State Broncos cornerback Jeremiah Earby looks on during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Dec. 31, 2024. (Getty Images)
The NCAA created new guidelines, and athletes sued for eligibility
When the NCAA enacted new guidelines on how many years an athlete has to compete at the collegiate level, this spurred a plethora of lawsuits against the organization by members of the 2022 class that felt as though they were being singled out.
After playing for Boise State last season and recording 60 tackles, Jeremiah Earby did not receive an opportunity at the professional level. So, after the NFL process played out, he then decided to try his hand at filing a lawsuit that would allow him to play an additional season of college football.
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For Bauman, he was a member of the Miami Hurricanes 2025 team that played for a national championship against Indiana. Before playing for Mario Cristobal, the wide receiver attended Tulane for three years, with his productive 2024 season garnering enough attention that landed him a spot at Miami.
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Alex Bauman No. 87 of the Miami Hurricanes runs with the ball away from an NC State defender during a game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Nov. 15, 2025. (ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Now, the question is whether Kyle Whittingham will officially add these two players to the Michigan roster, as they are currently 3-2 on the season and are preparing to play Penn State this weekend in Ann Arbor.
In the case of Jeremiah Earby and Alex Bauman, they are enrolled at Michigan, but have not yet signed with the Wolverines, as of Wednesday afternoon.
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In recent months, there have been a number of athletes who have received the same type of court ruling as these two players, though it’s up to the school on whether they will actually roster them.
Bryce Underwood #19 of the Michigan Wolverines attempts a pass during the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., on Oct. 3, 2026. (Getty Images)
These cases in college backyards, like Michigan, don’t just appear
The school is not commenting on the matter, given that both players have yet to officially sign with Michigan.
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But these court cases don’t just appear out of thin air, especially when they are heard in the a school’s backyard.
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The latest move involving a player being granted an additional year of eligibility, and then using a court-issued transfer portal window, has commissioners across the country wondering how to reel in these cases being won inside a courtroom.
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For the NCAA, all they can do is continue fighting these lawsuits, given they could have just grandfathered these athletes into their new rules.
Welcome to the chaos of college athletics in 2026.