​On Thursday, four-star quarterback Colton Nussmeier had his appeal for varsity eligibility denied by a 4-1 vote from the University Interscholastic League’s state executive committee. The UIL upheld a local district executive committee ruling that Nussmeier transferred for athletic purposes when he moved from Flower Mound Marcus to three-time state champion Denton Ryan in the offseason. As a result, the UIL’s decision renders him ineligible for varsity football at Ryan for the 2026 season unless he pursues a legal path, a possibility that remains open.
The ruling was notable because Nussmeier is the top quarterback in the Dallas area, the 17th-ranked quarterback nationally, and has committed to Georgia. It was also somewhat surprising given that during Thursday’s hearing, Flower Mound Marcus coach Mike Alexander indicated he did not believe Nussmeier transferred for athletic purposes based on new information presented at the state executive committee meeting. Alexander had told the previous district executive committee hearing that he did not possess evidence or documentation against Colton but felt obliged to indicate in the PAPF that the move was athletic for integrity reasons. He reiterated that stance on Thursday, emphasizing that he has never had a problem with Colton or his family.
Retiring Denton ISD athletic director Joey Florence told the UIL that he did not think Alexander should have marked the PAPF to indicate an athletic transfer since there was no supporting evidence. “I’m disappointed in today’s results,” Florence told The Dallas Morning News after the hearing. “We feel there was no evidence that the kid moved for athletic purposes, and that all UIL and Denton ISD regulations were met.”
Florence spoke at the Thursday hearing because the Nussmeier situation occurred during his tenure, before his retirement at the end of the school year. However, prior to the state executive committee meeting, he sent a letter to the UIL expressing concern that the UIL might be shifting away from evidence-based decision-making and toward voting based on personal opinions and beliefs. He feared that Nussmeier could be affected by such a shift, which is why he urged the UIL to reverse the DEC’s decision and declare Nussmeier eligible. That request, unfortunately for Florence and fans of Nussmeier, did not prevail.
The letter Florence sent to the UIL—addressed to the committee chair and members of the State Executive Committee—outlined his stance and request for a reversal of the 3-3 tie in the District Executive Committee’s decision, seeking eligibility for Colton Nussmeier to compete at the varsity level. In his message, Florence, who recently concluded nearly four decades in public education, expressed his continued belief in the integrity of the process and his support for a fact-based determination.
This situation remains a focal point for those following high school football in the area, given Nussmeier’s high ranking and prestigious commitment. If the decision stands, Nussmeier will face ineligibility for the 2026 varsity season at Ryan, with a potential path to pursue legal action as a last resort, something that could culminate in a court ruling and a new decision.