articleThe Brief On July 31, a judge made clear in a new ruling that football players who signed professional contracts can’t change their minds and return to college. Judge Charlotte Sweeney explained her ruling at the request of NCAA officials. The NCAA has an eligibility rule for student-athletes to play five years in college, which is scheduled to begin in 2027. The Associated Press reported that Sweeney acknowledged that her ruling has no effect on other NCAA rules like prohibition on players signing pro contracts, then returning to college. The Source: Information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, which obtained a statement from the NCAA on the judge’s ruling.