NORMAN — A group of eight athletes, including Oklahoma Sooners baseball first baseman Dayton Tockey and defensive tackle Danny Saili, are taking legal action against the NCAA in an effort to secure an additional season of eligibility. They argue that the NCAA has unfairly excluded their high school graduating class from a recently implemented rule that allows Division I athletes five years of eligibility.
The lawsuit was filed in the Cleveland County District Court on Thursday, seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that would permit these athletes to compete during the 2026-27 school year. The case has been assigned to District Judge Thad Balkman, with a hearing scheduled for 2:45 p.m.
At the heart of this legal challenge is the NCAA’s newly adopted “Five-for-Five Rule,” which was approved by the organization’s governance structure over the summer. This rule allows current Division I athletes five years to participate in NCAA sports following their high school graduation, a significant change aimed at providing more flexibility for student-athletes.
The plaintiffs claim that the NCAA has excluded athletes from the high school graduating class of 2022, which includes the eight individuals involved in the lawsuit, from benefiting from this new eligibility rule. This exclusion has raised concerns about fairness and equity in the treatment of student-athletes across different graduating classes.
Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Oklahoma football coach Brent Venables confirmed that Danny Saili remains on the roster and has been actively practicing with the team, even though he is currently ineligible due to the injunction related to the Five-for-Five Rule. Saili, who stands at 6-foot-1 and weighs 280 pounds, participated in 11 games last season for Arkansas, where he recorded 10 tackles, a pass breakup, and two quarterback hurries.
Dayton Tockey, who played a pivotal role in leading the Sooners to a national championship this past summer, also finds himself at the center of this legal battle. During the season, Tockey appeared in 43 games, making 34 starts at first base. He finished the season with a batting average of .250, accumulating 26 hits, six doubles, 21 runs scored, and 23 runs batted in.
In addition to Saili and Tockey, the petition includes several other athletes seeking eligibility, such as Wisconsin cornerback D’Yoni Hill, former Oklahoma State and Tulsa wide receiver Braylin Presley, Stephen F. Austin linebacker Jaydon Southard, ETSU linebacker Ty Anderson, UNC safety Gavin Gibson, and Lehigh defensive lineman TJ Burke. Their collective pursuit of eligibility raises important questions about the implications of NCAA policy changes on student-athletes.
As this legal situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the court will respond to the athletes' request and what impact it may have on NCAA policies moving forward. The outcome could set a precedent for future eligibility cases and the interpretation of the NCAA's rules regarding student-athlete participation.
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