Back in January, Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Owen Heinecke had his petition for another year of eligibility denied by the NCAA because he played one season of college lacrosse at Ohio State.
While other players have received seven and even eight years of football eligibility, the NCAA determined that Owen Heinecke had exhausted his eligibility in all sports. He played one year of lacrosse at Ohio State (15 minutes over three games), redshirted his first year with Oklahoma football as a walk-on after making one tackle, then played three full seasons for the Sooners, primarily on special teams during the first two.
The ruling forced Owen Heinecke to prepare for the NFL Draft at the Senior Bowl, OU’s Pro Day, and the NFL Combine. The NFL will hold the 2026 Draft in Pittsburgh from Thursday, April 23, through Saturday, April 25.
Owen Heinecke is suing the NCAA for another year of eligibility
Before that happens, though, Owen Heinecke has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking a preliminary injunction for an additional year of eligibility.
According to court documents obtained by The Oklahoman, an emergency hearing is now set for 8:30 a.m. April 16 in Cleveland County District Court in Oklahoma. The court has assigned District Judge Thad Balkman, an OU Law graduate, to the case.
“OU fully supports Owen and his pursuit of a fair opportunity to continue playing the game he loves,” Sooners athletic director Roger Denny said in a statement. “We’ll stand firmly beside him as he works to do just that.”
Heinecke had 74 tackles and earned second-team All-SEC honors last season. Scouts expect him to be a late-round selection if he stays in the NFL Draft.
“We’re not giving up,” The Oklahoman reports Oklahoma football general manager Jim Nagy said earlier this month. “Owen’s just a guy you want to fight for, and we’ve got a locker room full of great young men and Owen’s incredible.”