A federal judge’s decision to expand the NCAA’s new eligibility rules to include 2022 high school athletes has significant implications for the Big Ten. Indiana Hoosiers defensive tackle Stephen Daley, one of the most dominant interior defenders during the 2025 college football season, is returning to Bloomington. The ruling grants a fifth season to players who exhausted their eligibility under the old system, and Daley’s return bolsters an already loaded Indiana defensive line heading into 2026.

Daley was unstoppable during Indiana’s national championship run in 2025, racking up 19 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He rejoins a defensive tackle room that already features Mario Landino and Tyrique Tucker, giving the Hoosiers arguably the best interior defensive line group in the conference. For the top teams in the Big Ten, this is a problem.

The controversy behind Daley’s return

There is an uproar here because Daley technically exhausted his college eligibility. He played four full seasons: three at Kent State and one at Indiana. Under the previous rules, his time was up.

However, the NCAA changed its eligibility structure this offseason, implementing a five-for-five model. Athletes now have five years to compete in their sport. Redshirts and waivers are gone entirely. While that simplifies the process, it created a gray area for players who just finished their fourth playing season in 2025.

At the end of last week, U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney issued a nationwide preliminary injunction requiring the NCAA to recognize a fifth season for athletes who completed their eligibility in 2025. That opened the door for Daley to suit up again.

Why this matters for Indiana and for Daley

After Daley went undrafted and did not receive any NFL interest due to an injury he suffered at the end of the year, this ruling is massive for both him and the program. Indiana is coming off an incredible 2025 campaign, and getting back a player of Daley’s caliber only strengthens the Hoosiers’ case as a legitimate contender again.

The most important aspect of this for Indiana is the depth it creates along the defensive line. Having Daley, Landino, and Tucker rotating on the interior gives the Hoosiers a pass-rushing presence that few Big Ten offenses will be equipped to handle. It’s one thing to game-plan for one elite defensive tackle. It’s another to face three.

For Daley, this is a second chance to put himself on NFL radars. A healthy season with production comparable to what he showed in 2025 could change his professional outlook entirely. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and pick up right where he left off, because the combination of his talent and Indiana’s trajectory makes the Hoosiers a scary proposition for the rest of the Big Ten.