Oklahoma's Owen Heinecke granted preliminary injunction for eligibility

Oklahoma football linebacker Owen Heinecke was granted a preliminary injunction in Cleveland County District Court on Thursday, April 16, making him eligible for the 2026 season in a potential precedent-setting decision.

Heinecke, a redshirt senior last season, was denied an eligibility waiver by the NCAA on Jan. 30. He participated in the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine and was preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft before deciding to sue the NCAA on March 23 (Heinecke was projected as a late-round pick).

REQUIRED READING: Owen Heinecke wins NCAA eligibility hearing to return to OU football

It's an interesting case as Heinecke, a former walk-on, started his career playing lacrosse at Ohio State. He played 15 minutes of action for the Buckeyes in three games before transferring to Oklahoma, where he recorded only 12 total tackles from 2022-24 before emerging as one of the best linebackers in the SEC down the stretch in 2025, earning second-team All-SEC honors by the Associated Press. His 15 minutes and three lacrosse games at Ohio State were counting against him in eligibility prior to the decision April 16.

Heinecke's counsel argued he intended to be a two-sport athlete at Ohio State, but was denied the opportunity to play football at the school due to the program not holding walk-on tryouts until the spring due to COVID-19, and Heinecke also dealing with a hip injury from high school.

Heinecke also argued COVID-19 denied him the best chance at football opportunities as a high school recruit. He received offers from Army and Navy and other Division II programs, but decided to play lacrosse at Ohio State as the NCAA didn't allow for in-person recruiting visits.

Both Oklahoma coach Brent Venables and general manager Jim Nagy testified in court in support of Heinecke. Heinecke's high school coach also testified, and OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. and athletic director Rogert Denny were in attendance.

“He’s just now coming into his own as a football player,” Venables said via On3. “Becoming an All-American, competing for a Butkus Award — all of those things are sitting in front of him… He would likely be a captain, as well.”