​Former Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Cole Hutson is seeking a return to Austin for another season in burnt orange and white, filing a lawsuit against the NCAA in Travis County in an effort to gain an additional year of eligibility through immediate emergency injunctive relief.
Hutson, a former Texas offensive lineman and member of the Longhorns’ 2022 recruiting class, is challenging the NCAA’s Seasons of Competition Rule under Bylaw 12.6 after the organization adopted a new five-for-five eligibility model for football players who graduated high school after 2022. That rule change allows athletes in the 2023 recruiting class and beyond to compete in five seasons without needing to use a redshirt year, but it does not currently apply to Hutson.
The lawsuit was filed by Collin County attorney David Obard and argues that the NCAA’s current application of the rule unfairly prevents Hutson from playing a fifth season during his five-year eligibility window. According to the filing, Hutson is seeking the same type of opportunity now available to younger college football players under the NCAA’s revised eligibility structure.
The suit states that Hutson “challenges defendant’s Seasons of Competition Rule in NCAA Bylaw 12.6 as applied to him in light of defendant’s recent rule change allowing football players graduating high school after 2022 to compete in five seasons of competition without needing to redshirt.”
The filing further argues that the NCAA’s decision restricts Hutson’s ability to continue developing as a football player, pursue additional scholarship opportunities while working toward a master’s degree, and benefit financially from his name, image, and likeness. The lawsuit claims the NCAA’s “arbitrary application” of the bylaw limits the number of games Hutson can play, reduces his ability to improve his professional prospects, and impacts his potential NIL earnings as a student-athlete.
Hutson arrived at Texas as a highly regarded offensive line prospect out of Frisco, Texas. A consensus four-star recruit in the 2022 class, he was ranked as the No. 362 overall player in the country and the No. 13 interior offensive lineman nationally. At 6-foot-5 and 308 pounds, Hutson quickly became a contributor for the Longhorns and developed into one of the most experienced linemen on the roster during his time on the Forty Acres.
During his four-year Texas career, Hutson appeared in 48 games and made 23 starts. He made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2022, starting all 13 games at right guard. Over the next two seasons, he played more of a reserve role while still providing valuable depth along the offensive line. Later in his career, Hutson began the season as the starting center before missing three games due to injury. After returning to the lineup, he started the final five games at left guard as Connor Robertson took over the starting center position.
Because of the recent scholarship expansion in college football, Texas would have room on the roster if Hutson were granted eligibility to play another season. His return would give the Longhorns a veteran presence on the interior offensive line and another experienced option for a unit that remains critical to Texas’ College Football Playoff and SEC championship aspirations.
If Hutson receives the temporary injunction he is seeking and is allowed to suit up for Texas this fall, he would likely enter the competition for the open starting job at left guard. Andre Cojoe and Western Kentucky transfer Laurence Seymore are currently viewed as leading contenders for that role, but Hutson’s experience in the Texas system could make him a serious factor if he is cleared to return.
Hutson’s lawsuit places him among a growing number of former Texas athletes who are challenging NCAA eligibility rules in pursuit of an additional season. Former Texas basketball players Jordan Pope and Chendall Weaver have also sought fifth-year eligibility, reflecting a broader wave of legal challenges tied to evolving NCAA rules, athlete compensation, and the changing structure of college sports.
The case could carry significant implications not only for Cole Hutson and Texas football, but also for other college athletes who fall just outside the NCAA’s new five-for-five eligibility model. If successful, Hutson’s challenge may open the door for more players from the 2022 recruiting class and earlier to pursue additional eligibility under similar arguments.