Why ex-Ohio State kicker filed lawsuit against NCAA

Multiple players have been granted a fifth year of eligibility by a court ruling. Still, due to NCAA transfer rules around football, those players would need to return to their former school if there was still a spot on the roster. That is what happened at Indiana, as Stephen Daley returned to the roster after the injunction. Now, a former Ohio State player is also looking to return to college, according to Chris Hummer of CBS Sports.

“Ex-Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding has filed a lawsuit in Illinois against the NCAA seeking the ability to transfer and use his 5th season of eligibility,” Hummer posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Jayden Fielding is a former All-Big Ten selection and went 16 of 20 on field goals last year, which would make him attractive to teams still looking to shore up the kicking positions. Fielding did not redshirt while playing at Ohio State and ran out of eligibility following the 2025 season after playing four seasons. Overall, Fielding was the starting kicker for Ohio State from 2023 through 2025, making 45 of 56 kicks and 178 of 179 extra points.

The preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney eliminates redshirts and grants all players five years of eligibility.

Fielding is not the only Ohio State player who played just four years and did not take a redshirt. CJ Donaldson, Caden Curry, Sonny Styles, and Davison Igbinosun all would have the option to return to Ohio State according to the injunction, but considering all of them are currently on NFL rosters, that seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Fielding did not get an NFL offer and was cut after two weeks with the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL.

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