An appeals-court calendar in mid-March has quietly put a giant asterisk over Memphis football. The outcome of Cortez Braham Jr.'s ongoing eligibility fight, the litigation that cleared him to play in 2025, could trigger retroactive NCAA action with real consequences for the Tigers on and off the field.
Judge's July ruling that cleared Braham
In July 2025, a federal judge in Nevada granted Braham a preliminary injunction that barred the NCAA from enforcing the Five-Year Rule against him and enjoined the association from applying its Rule of Restitution while the case proceeds. That district court order, signed by Judge Miranda M. Du, is available on Justia Dockets & Filings.
Appeal heads to the Ninth Circuit
The NCAA appealed the injunction, and the case is now active on appeal; the College Sports Litigation Tracker shows the matter moving through briefing and lists March 13, 2026 as a scheduled date on the Ninth Circuit calendar. Recent appellate filings, including an NCAA response to a motion to dismiss in early February, underline that the dispute is very much alive.
Why Memphis is watching
Braham signed with Memphis after the injunction and quickly became a focal point of the passing game, hauling in high-impact catches and helping decide close games, as reported by The Commercial Appeal. His on-field production is right there in the box score: ESPN's player page lists Braham's 2025 receiving totals, which helped make him one of the Tigers' most important offensive weapons.
Rule of Restitution could carry big penalties
The immediate legal risk to Memphis stems from NCAA Bylaw 12.11.4.2, the so-called Rule of Restitution, which authorizes retroactive measures such as vacating records, rescinding awards, forfeiting games, or imposing financial penalties if a court later finds that injunctive relief was not justified. Legal commentary and firm analyses outline those possible remedies and why they matter to institutions; see the discussion from Ropes & Gray for background on how the rule has been treated in recent litigation.
What to expect next
The official Ninth Circuit docket lists the appeal and the panel calendar; oral argument for Braham's case is on the court's March 13, 2026, schedule in Las Vegas. The local perspective, including coverage that the eligibility suit "is still being litigated," was summarized by Daily Memphian on Feb. 16, 2026, reflecting why Shelby County fans and program officials are keeping a close eye on the appellate timeline.
Bottom line for the Tigers
For now, Memphis will continue to roster Braham while the appeals court considers the NCAA's challenge, but a reversal on appeal could reopen exposure to retroactive penalties or force roster and record adjustments. Braham's lawyers have framed the case as an antitrust challenge tied to modern NIL economics, a point outlined in the plaintiff team’s press material from Lewis Brisbois, meaning the stakes extend beyond one program to how JUCO transfers and NIL intersect around the country.
