A lawyer for Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia and 26 other football players has cited the NCAA’s decision to allow an NBA draft pick to return to college basketball as a reason that a federal judge should let his clients play in 2026 and 2027.

Five college football players at power-conference schools asked a federal judge on Monday for a preliminary injunction to play a fifth year next season.

The NCAA is in court over its eligibility rules with Tuesday's hearing focused on Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia.

Vanderbilt linebacker Langston Patterson and former Hawaii quarterback Brayden Schager are among 10 plaintiffs suing the NCAA over its redshirt rule that puts restrictions on the five years the athletes have to practice, play and graduate from college.