Tennessee Guard Zakaisé Zeigler’s Fifth Year Eligibility Legal Battle

Tennessee guard Zakaisé Zeigler’s appeal for a fifth year of eligibility has been temporarily denied.

In May, Zeigler filed a lawsuit against the NCAA regarding the “Five Year Playing Four Seasons” eligibility rule. He argues that this rule constitutes an illegal restraint of trade under both federal and state antitrust laws. However, the request for an interim injunction was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Catherine Kleitzer.

Zeigler’s lawsuit suggests that this rule deprives athletes, like him, of their fifth season and in many cases, the best opportunity to compete. He has estimated that if he were allowed to play in the 2025-26 season, his potential earnings could reach up to $20.4 million.

If Zeigler’s legal challenge had been successful, it likely would have opened the door for numerous other lawsuits from recent graduates wanting to participate in the upcoming season.

At this point, the court has sided with the NCAA. It’s interesting to note that judges have frequently referred to the “current state of law” in their decisions.

“The court is not a policy-maker; it operates within the confines of the law,” Judge Kleitzer stated in her ruling. “Decisions about what the NCAA should do for the benefit of student-athletes go beyond the scope of Sherman Law and Tipa.”

Litson PLLC, one of the law firms representing Zeigler, expressed disappointment at the court’s ruling regarding the preliminary injunction, noting the NCAA’s lack of direct control over athlete compensation.

“This ruling is just the beginning of what we believe will be a successful challenge. We are committed to moving forward and supporting Zakai in finding the best way ahead,” they stated.

Zeigler has had a stellar career at Tennessee, where he was a starting player for four years. He earned the title of SEC Defensive Player of the Year in both 2024 and 2025 and was part of the SEC All-Defensive Team for four straight years as well as being named a Third Team All-American in 2024-25. He also played a key role in leading the Volunteers to the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend for three consecutive years, including regional finals in 2024 and 2025.

If this indeed marks the conclusion of Zeigler’s collegiate journey, he exits as the holder of both single-season (275) and career (747) assist records at Tennessee, along with leading career steals at 251.