DALLAS — District Judge Martin Hoffman signed a temporary restraining order in Dallas County on Thursday barring the NCAA, the Southeastern Conference, and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey from blocking 41 athletes from returning to college sports in 2026-27. Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jordan Hudson is one of them.
The order lets Hudson enter the transfer portal and play a fifth college season. He played against the New Orleans Saints the next night.
Rosters cut to 53 players at 5 p.m. CT Sunday. Waiver claims clear at noon CT Monday.
“I ain’t really worrying about college football. I’m in the NFL,” Hudson said. “So that’s what I’m focused on right now.”
“Not as of right now. I’m focusing on making this team. That’s where my priority is,” Hudson said. “But if the opportunity comes and I get cut, we’ll figure it out when we get there.”
“We’ll figure it out when we get there,” Hudson said. “I don’t really got no question on that yet.”
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer was not certain how the mechanics work.
“Honestly, I don’t know the rules, but I do know that Hudy played great tonight,” Schottenheimer said. “Sam made some beautiful throws, and we’ll figure that over these next couple of days.”
The Class Of 2022 And The June Rule Change
Attorney Ryan Downton filed on behalf of the athletes in Dallas and in several other states. The plaintiffs all finished high school in 2022. The NCAA changed its eligibility rules in June, allowing athletes five seasons of competition within five years instead of four. Seniors in 2025-26 under the old rules did not get an extra year.
ESPN reported that the Dallas order is the first to stop a conference from writing rules that would punish schools for signing any of the plaintiffs. The NCAA sent representatives to the hearing. Two Kansas City Chiefs players and two athletes who signed WNBA contracts this summer are also named on the order.
This month, SEC presidents and chancellors unanimously voted 16-0 to prohibit former professional players from rejoining conference schools, while 15-0 approved penalties, with LSU abstaining. Similarly, the Power 4 conferences have enacted comparable bans. However, the Dallas order does not address these restrictions.
Jordan Hudson Signed For $105,000 Guaranteed
Hudson signed a three-year, $3.1 million contract after going undrafted in April. Dallas guaranteed $105,000 of it. Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Thursday that Hudson would still play in the finale.
A Louisiana judge cleared 16 class of 2022 players to return last week. Tight end Dae’Quan Wright played an NFL preseason game in Cleveland and then reported to LSU.
Camden Brown, the undrafted Cowboys receiver who started Friday, also finished high school in 2022 and could pursue the same path, the Dallas Morning News reported.
