The NCAA is currently involved in multiple class action lawsuits, the most notable of which is Housev. The NCAA, an anti-Trust lawsuit, could reshape the landscape of college sports if the proposed settlement is approved.
Compensation for student-athletes has been a priority in many lawsuits against the NCAA, but secondly, the issue of eligibility for the issue.
Sometimes, junior high school transfers successfully ensure additional qualifications with the 1-level level of litigation. The most eye-catching example is Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia.
Now, Tennessee Basketball's Zakai Zeigler has received a new qualification bid.
Zeigler signed with Tennessee in 2021 and began signing volunteers immediately over the past four years. He has no redshirts, which is the key to his problem with the NCAA.
Zeigler is seeking a fifth-year qualification while pursuing a graduate degree in Tennessee. He believes he was “arbitrarily forbidden by the NCAA rule that restricts athletes from participating in intercollegiate competition for only four seasons within the five-year window.”
Zeigler hopes to be qualified for five years in that five-year window.
Zeigler's argument boils down to a few key points:
The Redshirt allows the NCAA program to "major control who has obtained the fifth year of eligibility, strategically 'banking' qualifications' for certain athletes, while rejecting other athletes without regard to the preferences and interests of the institutions," Zeigler's complaint reads.
According to Spyre Sports Group's forecast, the fifth year of student-athletes is the most profitable.
Zeigler earned about $150,000 in freshman season, and his zero-pay salary grew every year. If he can compete in the fifth year, he will make about $2 million to $4 million next year.
"This valuation reflects the market value of seniors, has a reliable performance record and high visibility, especially at high-profile conferences like the SEC," the complaint said.
Zeigler believes that because of the lack of redshirts, Zeigler argued that he was blocked from charging further zero-paying salaries from other student-athletes.
Zeigler has not attempted to revoke the NCAA’s five-year rule for student-athletes. Instead, the complaint noted that he believes there is no “reason for academic progress” to limit student-athletes to five years of eligibility for just four years. He said the five-year window for college sports should mean five years of qualification.
"Indeed, the fact that the NCAA's qualification window is five years long shows that allowing athletes to conflict with any claimed academic or other purpose for every year of the five years, the NCAA may claim to support the rules of the Four Seasons," his complaint said.
It continues: “…The Redshirt system also shows that the rules of the Four Seasons lack legally forged reasons. Inconsistencies expose the nature of the excuses that the NCAA claims: The provisions of the Four Seasons cannot preserve amateurism because none of them are in the same graduation scope, because none of them are in the same qualification scope. Competitive balance, because schools with more resources can strategically conduct more athletes in the Redshirt.
Zeigler, who has a record of most assists (747) and most steals (251) in Tennessee basketball history and was named 2025 Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC, is seeking a jury trial and ruling that the NCAA’s four-season rules violate the Sherman Act and Tennessee Trade Practice Act.
He also hopes for a "primary and permanent ban" that will allow him to play in the upcoming 2025-26 college basketball season. If he was to win the lawsuit, it could dramatically change the college track and field scenario.