Brock Murtha was hoping to receive a temporary restraining order against the NCAA so he could play one final season of college baseball at Navy. His request was denied by a federal court on Thursday.
This means the fifth-year senior remains ineligible to compete for the Midshipmen in 2026.
It is currently unclear as to how this unusual college baseball eligibility case will continue but his attorney vows to explore every option to get him back on the field before he is commissioned into the U.S. military. His lawsuit is very different from the other athletes in search of financial or professional gain.
Brock Murtha wants to play another season of college baseball at Navy.
Although Brock Murtha is not a household name by any stretch of the imagination, he is a certified star and a great American. The 6-foot-0, 195-pound infielder burst onto the scene as an All-Patriot League Second Team player at the Naval Academy in 2024. He hit a team-high .345 with an on-base percentage of .473.
It was a breakout season that really put him on the map.
Murtha ranked as the No. 24 second baseman in the country prior to his junior season because of his strong campaign in the year prior. He followed it up with a .272 batting average and .408 on-base percentage in 2025.
This is where the situation took a turn for the worst.
Murtha thought he had another season of eligibility for 2026. The New York-native transferred to Navy under the impression that he would have four years of eligibility remaining after he spent his first two years in an extremely limited role at Notre Dame. The NCAA does not agree. It denied him a sixth year.
Navy worked with Brock Murtha to file for a waiver that would allow him to play in the current season. Unfortunately, the academy did not accurately represent the circumstances of his entire career. It mischaracterized Murtha, who was a reserve infielder, as a closing pitcher for Notre Dame. It also misstated the timing of his “last substantive participation” for his former program.
The NCAA said no.
Murtha’s waiver was denied. He remains ineligible after the first 11 games of the season. He and Navy would like to get his bat back in the lineup and his glove back in the keystone position on defense.
With that goal in mind, Murtha recently filed a lawsuit in federal court to get a temporary restraining order against the NCAA that would allow him to play. His case is focused on leadership development.
That is very different from the other college athletes in pursuit of additional eligibility, like Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. They claim irreparable financial harm if they cannot play. Their inability to compete might also hinder their ability to become a top pick in the NFL Draft. You get the idea.
Brock Murtha does not get paid for his NIL. Nor can he turn pro after this season.
The 23-year-old will soon graduate from the Naval Academy and serve his country. Every minute he is not on the field with his teammates is detrimental to his growth as a future member of the Marines.
College baseball is a unique opportunity to “practice the small-unit leadership that mimics a Marine Platoon.” His lawsuit was not based on money or fame. Murtha had/has an extremely unique case.
“The harm I am facing is not the loss of ‘fun’ or ‘games.’ It is the loss of critical leadership reps that are essential to my ability to lead Marines in high-consequence environments. Once I commission in May, these opportunities are gone forever. No monetary award can replace the professional competence and compassion I am losing every single day I am held off that field.”
Murtha’s legal counsel claims NCAA refused to consider new evidence after the Naval Academy acknowledged its clerical mistakes. The NCAA claims he is not entitled to another season because his head coach at Notre Dame gave him limited playing time.
His request for a Temporary Restraining Order was denied.
Unfortunately, a federal judge ruled against Brock Murtha. U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin refused to grant him with the TRO and would not order the NCAA to grant his waiver for eligibility.
The verdict announcement took place at the Edward A. Garmatz U.S. Courthouse in Baltimore on Thursday. Murtha attended the hearing in his dress blues. He was obviously bummed.
“What hurts most is that we are here because of procedural issues and paperwork mistakes that I did not create, and yet I am the one losing an irreplaceable opportunity to play with my teammates and continue developing as a leader before I join the Marine Corps.”
Murtha is represented by prominent Title IX and NCAA eligibility lawyer Christine Brown. She issued the following statement exclusive to BroBible in response to Judge Rubin’s ruling.
“We’re clearly disappointed in the decision handed down yesterday. While a setback, we are exploring all of our options, because we believe Brock deserves to be on the field for the last several weeks before he is commissioned.”
This fight is not over!
“We continue to believe there are strong, plausible causes of action here, and we intend to pursue all appropriate relief to hold the NCAA accountable for the damage its broken system has done to Brock’s eligibility and his development as a future Marine officer.”
It is currently unclear as to what that might look like. Brock Murtha just wants to ball with his bros.