Why Diego Paviaâs NFL future includes a surprising CFL option after 2026 NFL Draft
Diego Pavia's path includes a surprising CFL option after the NFL Draft.
The NCAA's 5-in-5 rule is likely to pass, allowing athletes five playing seasons within five years. However, players like Otega Oweh will not be grandfathered in and will not benefit from this change.
Mar 19, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) and guard Denzel Aberdeen (1) talk with the media during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
It would appear Kentucky Basketballâs dream of Year 5 Otega Oweh just took a massive blow.
On Monday, the NCAA held a meeting to determine if the 5-in-5 proposal was going to move forward, meaning college athletes would be granted five playing seasons in a five-year window if it passes.
While itâs expected to pass, it sounds like it wonât apply to graduating college seniors such as Oweh.
NCAA President Charlie Baker told ESPN today that heâs optimistic that the proposal will move forward after the Division I Board of Directors met today. However, they will recommend not implementing this rule retroactively for graduates and players with exhausted eligibility.
âIf youâve used up your eligibility, youâve used it up,â Baker told ESPNâs Pete Thamel.
So, for now, it appears Oweh will not be allowed to play one more season. However, while Oweh may not exercise this option, you can bet that thereâs going to be a host of outgoing seniors who sue the NCAA for a fifth season. And you have to think theyâll have a good case for it, based on how many eligibility lawsuits the NCAA has lost in recent years.
In fact, Iâd bet that there will be at least a couple of players who sue the NCAA and get a fifth season. It appears Florida and former Wildcat Denzel Aberdeen will end up going that route, and there will be plenty of others who follow suit.
The NCAA 5-in-5 rule allows college athletes to have five playing seasons within a five-year period.
Otega Oweh, as a graduating senior, will not be grandfathered in under the new 5-in-5 rule.
The NCAA is expected to finalize the 5-in-5 proposal soon, following a recent meeting on the topic.
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Will Oweh be willing to make that type of Hail Mary move? It appears thatâs his only hope of getting one more season, but at this point, he may simply be ready to move on and begin his professional career.
As for Mark Pope and Co., theyâll likely be operating as if an Oweh return is off the table, instead focusing their resources on players who can play next season for certain.