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California football player Aidan Keanaaina has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA. The veteran defensive lineman is seeking another year of eligibility.
This comes as he continues through the NFL Draft process. He wants to keep all options open in regard to his football future.
Keanaaina requests a temporary restraining order citing his 2022 season as reasoning for a medical exception. He is leaning on past rulings in previous NCAA cases in his pursuit of an extended window.
Aidan Keanaaina has played 6 seasons.
The Colorado native signed with Notre Dame as a four-star recruit in the class of 2020. He spent four seasons in South Bend, appearing in 11 games.
The COVID exception applied to his freshman year in which he redshirted. An ACL injury suffered in the ’22 season opener derailed his redshirt sophomore campaign.
Keanaaina transferred to Cal after his fourth year in college. He’s since played two seasons for the Bears.
After making 26 starts with the program, it was assumed his time at the NCAA level was finished. Keanaaina believed so. His family did, too.
One More Game – 🍍🏝️🐻👊#Calgorithm #GoBears pic.twitter.com/RdLnNbO9zs
— Stacey Keanaaina (@StaceyKeanaaina) December 5, 2025
Recent court cases, however, have changed the outlook. Most notably, that of Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss.
Chambliss received a preliminary injunction to play a sixth season at Mississippi. He cited a medical issue from his 2022 campaign.
After a lengthy battle with the NCAA, he secured eligibility. Keanaaina hopes to do the same. He has reason to return to Berkeley.
Oh, and, of note, Keanaaina also claims that among other interest, he’s been offered over $1 million to play for Cal in 2026. pic.twitter.com/worUy480RS
— Sam C. Ehrlich (@samcehrlich) March 31, 2026
The lineman says he’s been offered a seven-figure salary by the Bears. Others reached out, too, after he entered the transfer portal. The interest comes as a result of his most recent campaign in which he tallied 56 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Keanaaina is fighting for one more year. He should have options and NIL leverage if successful. If it doesn’t work out, though, there is a backup plan.
He can enter the NFL Draft.
Below is a timeline of Aidan Keanaaina’s college career.
2020: Notre Dame (COVID) – 1 game
2021: Notre Dame (Fr.) – 3 games
2022: Notre Dame (RS Fr.) – 1 game, injured
2023: Notre Dame (RS So.) – 6 games
2024: Cal (RS Jr.) – 13 games
2025: Cal (RS Sr.) – 13 games
By NCAA rule, he has exhausted both his redshirt and COVID exceptions. His 5-year window is over. He does not believe, however, that 2022 should count against him due to the season-ending ACL injury suffered in his debut.
It has yet to be determined if he’ll win that argument.
With that said, Keanaaina is a legitimate NFL prospect. He’s viewed by most as a late round pick or potential unrestricted free agent.
He currently sits in an advantageous spot. Technically, his eligibility has been used up. That makes him automatically eligible for the NFL Draft. He did not have to declare in January with underclassmen.
That’s allowed him to both participate in Cal’s Pro Day and meet with NFL teams. He visited with the Broncos late last month.
Should the outlook on his eligibility change, he can put off the draft for one year longer. He may very well make more money to play in college in 2026. Undrafted free agents sign three-year league minimum deals, which start at under $900,000.
For now, he continues to go through the NFL Draft process while pushing to secure a Super Senior season.