The college sports world had a crazy day on Friday. There was the agreement of the SEC and the Big Ten to join the Big 12 and the ACC in the signing of the "Protect College Sports Act." Now that will go to the Senate and could set things up for some major reform in college sports. However, let's talk about the other big piece of news: a judge in Colorado ordered the NCAA to give all 2022 athletes who exhausted four years of eligibility one more season.
While there's no way this is being fought in court and the NCAA will appeal to the Tenth Circuit, this opens the floodgates for all the 2022 recruits who have played four seasons to come back for a final season. While it doesn't affect a lot of Badgers, there are five that immediately come to mind. Let's go from most obvious to least obvious.
1. Braeden Carrington - Men's Basketball
Carrington is the first one that comes to mind because he's been actively practicing with the Badgers, is part of a lawsuit to get another year, and has vocalized a desire to return. He's a class of 2022 recruit and fits this order perfectly. He's played two seasons for Minnesota, one season for Tulsa, and his fourth year was in Wisconsin. Read more about Carrington's return here.
Related: AJ Storr now has one more college chance to chase the high he had at Wisconsin
2. Nathanial Vakos - Football
Wisconsin fans may not love this one, but he's been part of a preliminary injunction seeking a fifth year with fellow Badger Nick Levy. Vakos is also part of the 2022 high school grads and, once again, fits the order to a T. Wisconsin fans have some PTSD with Vakos, but if he did return, he may actually be the most likely kicker for 2026. The Badgers only have kick-off specialist Gavin Lahm and true freshman Brady Melum on the roster.
More action by 2022 HS grads over the NCAA's new eligiblity rule: Nick Levy, Kevin Gallic, and Nathanial Vakos - three plaintiffs in the Patterson class action challenging the (now former) four seasons rule - have filed a motion for a preliminary injunction seeking a fifth year. pic.twitter.com/jEUyflGDLO
— Sam C. Ehrlich (@samcehrlich) July 9, 2026
3. Nick Levy - Football
The previous name spoiled this name, so we might as well jump into Levy. He's a long snapper who also exhausted his eligibility last season. It's hard to see him fitting back into Wisconsin, though. Luke Fickell went out and replaced Levy with a transfer from Tulane, Andrew Goodman, and another transfer from Toledo, James Roe.
4. Lance Mason - Football
Mason also exhausted his eligibility last season and really could have used one more season at Wisconsin. One more year may have allowed him to get drafted, which did not happen after 2025. Mason went undrafted to the Seattle Seahawks and is currently hoping to make the NFL roster. Though it's a tough hill to climb.
Could he still come back even though he's signed a UDFA deal? That's a very gray area right now; some players will test, especially after this ruling. Mason would be a HUGE addition for the Badgers if somehow, someway, he came back.
5. Gift Uchenna - Women's Basketball
Uchenna is an interesting case study. She was already seeking an extra year, but her case was not like the others. She spent two seasons in Taiwan playing for Shih Shih University Taipei. The case is that those shouldn't count against her eligibility. However, what makes this new court ruling unique for Uchenna is that she fits the age of a 2022 high school graduate. So, she may be able to use this in her own case.
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