Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Jack Pyburn could be headed back to college after a Louisiana judge granted a temporary restraining order to the former LSU edge rusher and 15 others against the NCAA on Wednesday, clearing a path for them to leave the NFL and return to college football.

This significant courtroom loss for the NCAA comes at a time when its eligibility model continues to be challenged by players seeking additional seasons.

Pyburn’s argument centers on the organization’s five-year clock and his injury-shortened 2023 campaign at Florida, when a torn ACL ended his season after nine appearances.

Others who have successfully been granted a TRO by a Louisiana court include former James Madison linebacker Trent Hendrick, Ole Miss starters Dae’Quan Wright, Zxavian Harris, and Wydett Williams, and SMU running back TJ Harden.

Hendrick was the 2025 Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year for the Dukes and received invites to participate in minicamps with the Cleveland Browns and the Kansas City Chiefs this month.

Despite District Judge Charlotte Sweeney clarifying on Aug. 2 that NCAA rules would still apply regarding players who’ve signed NFL contracts and are ineligible to return to college, teams have remained in contact with different players about a potential return to school, sources told CBS Sports.

Pyburn exhausted what the NCAA considered his eligibility following four collegiate seasons, including a productive final year at LSU.

He started 11 games for the Tigers last fall, recording 52 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and eight quarterback pressures before participating in the Senior Bowl and beginning his professional career.

He later signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent and was an active participant in training camp this preseason.

The TRO does not constitute a final ruling in Pyburn’s lawsuit, but it provides him with immediate relief and the ability to pursue another opportunity while the case proceeds.

Considering his SEC experience at multiple schools and proven production, Pyburn should become a coveted defensive player once he is officially available.

This recent development highlights another crack in the eligibility structure of the NCAA, which courts have repeatedly questioned.

The eligibility model of the NCAA continues to face challenges from players seeking additional seasons, and the recent court rulings have added to the growing controversy surrounding the issue.

The potential return of Pyburn and other players to college football has significant implications for the NCAA, teams, and players involved, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold.

The outcome of the lawsuits and the potential return of players to college football will have far-reaching consequences for the NCAA and the world of sports, and it will be interesting to see how the situation develops in the coming weeks and months.