Jakob Marsee has 25 RBIs and nine steals in 32 games to begin his MLB career for Miami.
The 24-year-old outfielder had an amazing August, but may be too late to win NL rookie honors.
‘There’s a lot more to come,’ says Miami’s manager.

WASHINGTON – Any true measurement of just how real this Jakob Marsee thing is will have to wait.

Perhaps you’ve never heard of the young man, and that’s understandable: Marsee made his major league debut barely a month ago, toils in front of Miami Marlins home crowds often numbering in the four figures and has done his finest work when the news cycle tilts away from second division baseball games toward other pursuits.

Yet from the numbers he’s posted, to the offensive profile he’s created and the WAR he’s already banked in this short time in the majors, Marsee, a 24-year-old center fielder, is constructing a case worth examining as this season lurches toward a conclusion.

And there’s a chance that the National League’s greatest rookie won’t be its Rookie of the Year.

See, Marsee has just 129 plate appearances and with 23 games remaining would end up with roughly 221 by season’s end. That’s just two more than Willie McCovey’s total in 1959, when he won NL Rookie of the Year with the fewest plate appearances in the rookie award’s history.

Two months do not a season make. But oh, what a start to a career.

Marsee debuted Aug. 1 and in 30 games last month, banged out 18 extra-base hits, stole nine bases in 11 attempts and posted a .352/.430/.629 line. His 25 RBIs were the most by an NL rookie in any month, and across the majors trailed only the 27 by Nick Kurtz in July.

Marsee has accrued 2.0 fWAR since Aug. 1, behind only Milwaukee’s Brice Turang (2.2) in that span. And it’s kind of what the Marlins expected out of him – though perhaps not to this degree.

“What Jakob’s shown here is he runs real high-quality at-bats, he’s shown ability to impact the ball with some doubles and some slug, so that’s very encouraging,” says Marlins manager Clayton McCullough. “The things he was bringing to the table upon arrival he’s continued to display.

“And he really had a great month.”

Perhaps the start of something bigger.

Another Padres package

Ever wonder what happens to all those prospects the San Diego Padres trade?

Sometimes they can galvanize an organization, like when the generational Juan Soto was dealt west and the Washington Nationals received a bounty in return. Many others you never hear from again.

And then there’s players like Marsee, part of a four-player package received when Miami stunningly traded batting champion Luis Arráez on May 4, 2024, just weeks into a season the club was coming off a playoff berth.

The move inspired a small protest from fans tiring of the Marlins’ perpetual sell-off, and Arráez went on to help San Diego to the NL Division Series.

Marsee, drafted by San Diego out of Central Michigan in the sixth round in 2022, quickly played his way into prospect status with an excellent 2023 in the Padres’ system. Which meant he wasn’t going to be a Padre much longer.

“It’s not necessarily a bad thing,” says Marsee. “A lot of the culture is just about winning and our group we had coming up in the minor leagues, all we wanted to do was win and have fun and it was a lot about getting better each day and trying to win games.

“Everyone’s goal is just to make it up to the big league team they’re with at the time.”

It’s easy to see why the Marlins zeroed in on Marsee.

At 6-1 and 180 pounds, Marsee was a running back, receiver and safety at his suburban Detroit high school, and the manner in which he applies that athleticism to the diamond is apparent. Marsee’s sprint speed of 27.9 feet per second doesn’t put him among the top MLB speedsters – he’s step for step with veterans Mike Trout and George Springer – but he is elite on the basepaths, with 159 thefts in 189 attempts in his minor league career.

Three months after Marsee was shipped to Miami, right-hander Adam Mazur – a second-round pick in that 2022 draft – was included in a deal sending reliever Tanner Scott to the Padres. He’s seen Marsee every step of the way in their pro careers.

Just because the stadiums are far bigger than when they were knocking around the Padres’ minor league system doesn’t mean Mazur expected less from Marsee.

“Fort Wayne, San Antonio, I’ve been with him quite some time and it’s not surprising at all,” says Mazur. “He’s one of the best center fielders I’ve seen out there and he’s got a good bat.

“Personally, I love Marsee. He’s the man. I want to see him do as well as he can.’

And while the Marlins tracked his elite strike zone control well before they dealt for him, it has not abated facing the greatest pitchers in the world – Marsee’s 14.2% rate of swinging at pitches outside the strike zone is the lowest among hitters with at least 120 plate appearances. (For reference, the great Soto is second, at 15%).

“The ingredients Jakob has,” says McCullough, “what he’s shown and what piqued the interest of the organization to acquire him are the things we’ve seen: He has a chance to play above-average defense at a premium position. He’s going to bring value on the basepaths.

“He’s historically been very good at controlling the strike zone. And then it was going to be a big determination of, what does he do when he gets pitches in the zone and how does he impact them?”

Pretty well: Marsee’s 91.2 mph average exit velocity equals Freddie Freeman and is just behind Bryce Harper. His 50% hard-hit ball rate would place him among the top 35 hitters in the majors if he had sufficient plate appearances to qualify.

A sustainable resource

It’s been said that April and September are baseball’s most deceiving months, with the meat of the season its true test. McCullough was musing about recent callup Victor Mesa, and what a strong September may or may not mean for the young outfielder.

“The danger can be if a guy just has a great month offensively – it’s a lot of hits, a high batting average – but there’s no walks attached, what makes you think that’s going to continue on?” he asked. “You can’t take away performance – getting a hit up here is hard – but what makes you have more confidence this kind of performance is sustainable.”

Using that criteria, there’s plenty for the Marlins to hang their hat on with Marsee, thanks to his elite OBP. It’d just be hard to justify the youngster getting the top NL rookie honor this year.

On one hand, the field is somewhat wide open. Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin has had a fine season – 15 homers and an .818 OPS – but is not entirely a full-time player. Marlins teammate Agustin Ramirez leads NL rookies with 19 homers yet has a .288 OBP.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Cade Horton has nine wins and a 2.92 ERA in nearly 100 innings for a division-winning team.

On the other, 55 games played likely won’t be enough of a sample to convince voters, perhaps rightfully so.

But 2026 will offer a greater look at Marsee’s capabilities, even if there’s no Sophomore Of the Year award to lock down. Marsee still wears No. 87 on his back, more befitting a kid on the back fields of Jupiter trying to win a job in the spring rather than a regular.

He’s not sure if he’ll change it someday. Others are more confident his breakout is real, and simply a prelude.

“This is just a nice little show-out for him,” says Mazur, “but there’s a lot more to come.”

As part of our coverage of NFL opening weekend, USA TODAY Sports is focusing on the Thursday night matchup between the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys that features one of the under-appreciated players in the league: quarterback Jalen Hurts.

PHOENIX — Chants of MVP rang out across a sell-out crowd at PHX Arena on Tuesday as Phoenix Mercury guard Alyssa Thomas approached the free throw line late in the Mercury’s 85-79 win over the Indiana Fever.

Thomas has captured the admiration of the X-factor, the team’s devoted fanbase, that has borne witness to the Mercury’s seamless transition from the Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner era to the new big three of Thomas, Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper. National recognition, however, hasn’t come as easy.

Although Thomas has been a mainstay in the WNBA MVP conversation for years, finishing top five in voting her last three seasons in Connecticut, the 12-year veteran has yet to break through. MVP is the only accolade missing from her prolific resume, other than a WNBA title.

‘She’s has been overlooked this year,’ Mercury head coach Nate Thibbets said. ‘(Thomas) has probably been overlooked her whole career when it comes to the MVP-type race.’

Thomas has built her strongest case yet in her first season in Phoenix by leading the Mercury to their best winning percentage since the team’s 2014 title run, while averaging a near triple-double. It may be hard to get Thomas to brag or campaign for herself — ‘honestly, I don’t care’ about winning MVP — but her game has done the talking this season and it’s hard to ignore.

PHOENIX MERCURY upend Indiana Fever for fifth straight win as WNBA playoffs loom

MVP will likely be difficult to accomplish. Despite setting a WNBA record for triple-doubles in a season and career, Thomas (+10000) is third in MVP betting odds by a wide margin, trailing Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (-1200) and Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (+650). That doesn’t mean Thomas is any less deserving. Here’s why.

Alyssa Thomas is a triple-double machine

Thomas is averaging career-highs in points (16.0), assists (9.2) and field-goal percentage (53.8%) in her first season with the Mercury. Thomas’ scoring production may not be as high as Collier (23.5 points per game) or Wilson (23.4), but that doesn’t discount her ability to directly impact and influence the game. Thomas has generated a league-high 1,319 points this season when you take into account points scored and points assisted.

Let’s not forget about her historic triple-double run. Thomas set a single-season record with seven triple-doubles, with six coming across 10 games. Her seven triple-doubles surpasses the previous record (six) she set in 2023, when she finished second in MVP voting behind New York Liberty center Breanna Stewart despite receiving more first-place votes. She averaged 15.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game that year.

“I don’t know how (Thomas) gets triple-doubles every night,” Mercury center Natasha Mack joked after notching her first career double-double in the Mercury’s 83-79 win over the Chicago Sky on Aug. 28. “That’s hard.”

It is a very hard. In fact, no other player in WNBA history has more than four triple-doubles for their career. Thomas has a staggering 22, including the regular season and playoffs. Thomas said she may be a victim of her own success.

‘People have just have gotten accustomed to seeing me (get triple-doubles), but it’s by no means easy,’ Thomas told USA TODAY Sports. ‘I give a lot of credit to my teammates because without them it doesn’t happen. But for me, I want to impact the game as much as I can on offense and defense, whether it’s rebounding, scoring, assisting. So for me it’s just going out there and giving everything I have each and every night.’

Thomas has set a franchise single-season rebounding record (312) and is 14 assists away from passing Caitlin Clark’s league-wide single-season assist record (337) from 2024. Thomas is also on track to become the first WNBA player to average at least 15 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and one steal while shooting 50% or better from the field. (Only LeBron James, Magic Johnson and Nikola Jokić have accomplished that in the NBA.)

Alyssa Thomas needed ‘new start’ in Phoenix

Thomas was traded to the Mercury in a four-team trade in February following 11 seasons in Connecticut, where she led the Sun to eight consecutive playoff appearances. Thomas has made it as far as the WNBA Finals twice (2019 and 2022), but she fell just short of her ultimate goal.

‘I want to win a championship and I gave everything I had to Connecticut,’ Thomas said. ‘I felt that coming to Phoenix was a new start in an organization that’s known for winning championships.’

‘Offensively, I felt like it was just a perfect fit for me… I want to win a championship.’

Thomas joined a team in transition after Taurasi retired and Griner signed with the Atlanta Dream in free agency. There weren’t many expectations placed on the Mercury amid the team’s changing of guard and some questioned how long it would take the new ‘big three’ to build chemistry. Thomas vowed to uphold the same caliber of play that led to five All-Star bids and two first-team All-WNBA nods in Connecticut.

‘This has been my game my entire career,’ Thomas said.

The Mercury (26-14) have more than answered any questions. The team’s success is due in no small part to Thomas’ ability to create open shots for her teammates, which calls her ‘greatest job.’

“She’s just too tough to guard,” Copper said following the Mercury’s win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 26, when Thomas recorded her seventh triple-double. “(Thomas) can score. You really want to take away her vision, because she can pass. It’s a matchup problem every night.”

Phoenix Mercury have emerged as playoff contenders

Personal accolades don’t appeal to Thomas, only championships do.

‘I honestly don’t care about people’s opinions or what they think of me. … For me, it’s just about winning the basketball games,’ she said.

Phoenix has done just that. The Mercury are one of five teams that have punched their ticket to the playoffs and they are closing in on homecourt advantage with a 2.5 game advantage over the fifth-place Liberty. (The Mercury have a tiebreaker over the Liberty after winning the regular-season series 3-1.)

‘It’s crunch time. There’s only a few more games left until playoffs, so, these games are about us,’ Thomas said after the Mercury’s win over the Fever, where she finished just one rebound and one assist shy of her eighth triple-double of the season. ‘It’s about coming out, executing our game plan, and like I said, just fine-tuning ourselves leading up into playoffs.’

When asked if the Mercury are underestimated as contenders, Thomas said, ‘We always are.’

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New York Giants defensive lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux is partnering with Hellmann’s and designer zero waste daniel.
The collaboration features upcycled clothing, turning discarded materials into higher-quality fashion items.
He expressed optimism for the Giants’ upcoming season and feels he is playing the best football of his career.

Denim and mayonnaise mix together like wearing white after Labor Day.

New York Giants defensive lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux is challenging all of that as the 2025 NFL season begins.

The 2022 fifth overall pick by New York, now entering his fourth professional season, partnered with mayo brand Hellmann’s and designer zero waste daniel (Daniel Silverstein) on a custom ‘House of Hellmann’s’ look that includes pants, a jacket and hat that uses the Hellmann’s monochromatic cream-colored scheme all the way through. The iconic ribbon logo is also part of the motif.

‘It’s really dope,’ Thibodeaux told USA TODAY Sports. ‘I think it’s going to look great on the runway.’

The designer, known for ‘upcycled’ clothing (taking discarded elements and turning them into higher quality products), and Thibodeaux connected over the summer to flip through sketches. Thibodeaux selected his favorites and left those talks confident in what the final product would be.

‘Super excited to wear it,’ he said. ‘I think it’s going to be a great campaign.’

Thibodeaux also discussed the Giants’ upcoming season, his fashion inspirations and more.

Questions and answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

USA TODAY: What are the anticipation levels now that we’re within a week of the Giants’ season starting (Week 1 on the road against the Washington Commanders)?

Kayvon Thibodeaux: ‘It’s time. It’s time for some football … we’re super-optimistic about this season.’

USAT: Where do you feel like your game is at right now?

KT: ‘I feel like I’m as best as I’ve ever been. So really just continuing to hone in on that so I can display it on the field.’

USAT: One strength of this Giants team, presumably, is going to be the defensive line and you’re obviously a part of that. What has been the vibe in that room throughout the training camp, preseason?

KT: ‘The game starts with us. It starts up front. We got to set the tone. The defense sets the tone for our team.’

USAT: How much pride do you take in setting that tone?

KT: ‘The standard is the standard. It’s a great opportunity, for me to be playing with the Giants. They have a history of winning. So we’re trying to get back to that legacy.’

USAT: Are you a guy who believes in look good, feel good, play good?

KT: ‘Exactly. That’s why the partnership with Hellmann’s hit right at home. I think this campaign fit just for me. It’s edgy. It’s something that Hellmann’s, as a household name, hasn’t been involved in before. So me being that guy on stage is really dope.’

USAT: Have clothes and fashion been something you’ve always been interested in?

KT: ‘Definitely. I believe in Deion’s motto you look good, you feel good, you play good. Wearing nice clothes, or wearing how you like them, has always been a pillar for me just in my self-confidence and my charisma.’

USAT: You mentioned Deion. Any other professional athletes or celebrities you like to emulate your style after?

KT: ‘Over time, people have had a bunch of different styles that contributed to fashion over the years. But just to name a few, I would say Pharrell Williams, him and everything he’s doing. I was a big Virgil Abloh fan, as far as fashion design. And then athletes that are really dressing well, I would really say (reigning MVP and NBA champion of the Oklahoma City Thunder) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He dresses really nice.’

USAT: How important is the pregame wardrobe for athletes, in terms of a form of expression?

KT: ‘I think athletes carry a lot of power when it comes to the culture and influence. So not only is it big for the athlete to show who they are, but I think it also is amazing for the fans to get an inside look at a different part of the athlete – being attached to the story or the person, I think, is always beautiful. But for me, I think getting dressed (up) puts me in a great state of mind to go play. And also it just shows the world a different side of me.’

USAT: The sustainability aspect, how big of a deal is that to you?

KT: ‘It’s really dope. Being able to repurpose clothes is a big part of my fashion experience. I’ve been blessed with so many clothes and I’ve grown so many sizes that I had to not use (them) anymore until I learned to repurpose and redistribute. And that’s something that Daniel believes in.’

The wait is finally over. Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season is at hand.

As important as it is for NFL teams to get off to a strong start, it’s even more critical for fantasy football teams to do so – since our playoffs start a month earlier than theirs.

As usual, there are great matchups for the prime-time games, with the two top-rated fantasy quarterbacks going head-to-head on Sunday night as Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills host Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.

Another intriguing story line is how big an impact new head coach Ben Johnson will have on the Chicago Bears … and how much his absence will affect the Detroit Lions offense.

Let’s get to the rankings! (*-double-check status before kickoff)

Week 1 fantasy football QB rankings

Rams coach Sean McVay says Matthew Stafford (back) will start vs. the Texans
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott may be under even more pressure following Micah Parsons trade

Week 1 fantasy football RB rankings

De’Von Achane (calf) ‘remains on track’ to play in the Dolphins opener at the Colts
Tony Pollard gets an early-season boost with top backup Tyjae Spears on injured reserve
With Joe Mixon out for at least four games, Nick Chubb appears to be in line to start for the Texans

Week 1 fantasy football WR rankings

Niners wideout Jauan Jennings (calf) returned to practice Monday
Tyreek Hill (oblique) missed three weeks of practice but has returned to the field
Jayden Reed revealed he has a small fracture in his foot, but he plans to play through it

Week 1 fantasy football TE rankings

Week 1 fantasy football K rankings

Week 1 fantasy football D/ST rankings

NEW YORK – It seems that Father Time will have to wait a few days before attempting another record in history’s most impressive streak.

That’s because Novak Djokovic, all of 38 years old, is on to the US Open semifinals again, after taking three hours and 24 minutes to oust No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals and extending his dominance in the head-to-head matchup. Djokovic, the No. 7 seed, moved to 11-0 against Fritz, the 2024 US Open finalist, and has beaten the last 21 Americans he has faced in Grand Slam events.

Djokovic, extending his record of Grand Slam semifinal appearances to 53, will next take on No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz on Friday, Sept. 5. The 24-time Grand Slam champion, has beaten Alcaraz the last two times they have faced each other: in the 2025 Australian Open quarterfinals and the gold-medal match at the Paris Olympics last summer.

It will be the 14th US Open semifinal in Djokovic’s career, tying Jimmy Connors for most in tournament history. He also became the oldest man to reach the semifinals since Connors’ epic run in 1991.

With Fritz’s defeat, there are no American men left in the tournament, extending the country’s Grand Slam championship drought to 22 years, a streak that began after Andy Roddick’s victory at the 2003 US Open. Djokovic improved to 16-0 vs. Americans at the toournament.

Djokovic was aggressive from the beginning, while Fritz struggled to get his usually reliable serve over the net. The four-time US Open winner held onto leads of 3-0 and 4-1, before ultimately finishing off Fritz in the first set, 6-3.

Even when met with adversity, Djokovic battled, coughing up a 40-0 lead in the third game, thanks to three backhand unforced errors and a double fault, but Fritz failed to capitalize on a chance to break. It was even worse when Djokovic served for the set, and Fritz did not convert any of his five break chances.

Djokovic got the upper hand in the second set after a four-game stalemate of service holds, then again let Fritz make mistakes as he was broken in the 11th game, allowing Djokovic to take the set on his next service game.

Earlier in the tournament, there were concerns about Djokovic’s movements, as at times he looked slow, but he moved well throughout and found some power at times, serving up seven aces, and not letting his second serve become a liability – even as Fritz’s serve, which reached 134 mph, came to life during his 6-3 third-set triumph.

The fourth set held form for the first nine games, and Fritz dropped only three points on his serve. He was broken after Djokovic converted the last of his three match point opportunities when Fritz double-faulted in the final point of the contest.

Djokovic has now reached the semifinals of all four Grand Slams in the same year for the seventh time in his legendary career. His last final was at Wimbledon in 2024 and his last Grand Slam title was the 2023 US Open.

The victory will vault Djokovic past Fritz to No. 4 in the next ATP rankings, set to be released next week. The men’s quarterfinals continue Wednesday, Sept. 3 with two more matches, including No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner in primetime.

USA TODAY Sports had full coverage of the match between Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz. Scroll below for highlights.

Djokovic defeats Fritz to advance to US Open semifinals

Novak Djokovic broke Taylor Fritz in the final game of the fourth set when Fritz double faulted on match points. Djokovic, the No. 7 seed and four-time US Open champion advances to the semifinals where he will take on No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz on Friday.

Fritz takes the third set 6-3

Fritz is looking like the fresher player and took his first set, putting all the pressure on the 38-year-old Djokovic, who has shown signs of slowing down as the match gets later in the night.

Fritz fighting way back into match during 3rd set

Could this be the turning point that Fritz has been looking for? Fritz got another break and is up 3-1 in the third set and is on serve with a chance to take command of the set. Djokovic is a ridiculous 78-1 at the US Open after winning the first.

Fritz breaks to tie, gives it away

Fritz received big applause after breaking Djokovic in the 10th game and has a chance to grab momentum for the first time in a while. But in the very next game, Fritz was broken, giving Djokovic a 6-5 lead, and he went on to win the set on his serve, inching him one step closer to the semifinals.

Djokovic has unleashed some power, serving up seven aces so far in the match, and is doing some major damage with his second serve.

Fritz again fails to convert breaks

The first four games of the second set held to form as Fritz again failed on numerous break point chances, as Djokovic converted three aces in the fourth game to even the score.

Djokovic takes first set

An impressive showing from Djokovic early, who isn’t showing any sign that his body is betraying him like in previous rounds of the tournament. Serving for the set, Djokovic was down 0-30 and 15-40, and Fritz failed to convert five break points. The set ended with Djokovic winning 6-3 when Fritz’s forehand sailed out of bounds.

Djokovic races out to early lead

Fritz seems to have a little bit of nerves in the early going, hitting balls out for unforced errors and not getting his usually reliable first serve over. Djokovic broke Fritz’s serve and is up a break.

Djokovic-Fritz showdown about ready to start

It’s a party atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium before Taylor Fritz, a 2024 US Open finalist, and Novak Djokovic, a four-time US Open winner, take the court, with the DJ blasting music and the more than 20,000 fans enjoying the entertainment. Fritz will attempt to break a 0-10 lifetime match record against Djokovic, who is vying for his 25th Grand Slam championship.

What time do Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz play at US Open?

The men’s quarterfinal match between No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz and No. 7 seed Novak Djokovic is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.

How to watch Novak Djokovic vs. Taylor Fritz at US Open

No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz will face off against No. 7 seed Novak Djokovic in a men’s quarterfinal match inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Date: Tuesday, Sept. 2
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Stream:ESPN+ and Fubo (free trial)
Location: UST Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (New York)

Watch the 2025 US Open on Fubo (free trial)

Novak Djokovic vs. Taylor Fritz head-to-head

Novak Djokovic has beaten Taylor Fritz all 10 times the two have played, including a straight-set win in the US Open quarterfinals in 2023. The two last played in 2024 in an ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai on outdoor hardcourts (similar to the US Open), which Djokovic won 6-4, 6-6 (8-6).

Novak Djokovic vs. Taylor Fritz: Tale of the tape

Ten current and former college athletes have filed a class action lawsuit against the NCAA.
The lawsuit challenges the NCAA’s redshirt rule, which limits athletes to four seasons of play within a five-year eligibility window.
Plaintiffs argue the rule violates antitrust laws and unfairly restricts athletes’ ability to compete and earn NIL income all five years.

Two Vanderbilt football players are among 10 current and former college athletes suing the NCAA in a class action lawsuit, challenging its redshirt rules and allow athletes to compete in all five years of eligibility.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Nashville on Tuesday, Sept. 2, includes Vanderbilt linebacker Langston Patterson and defensive lineman Issa Ouattara as plaintiffs, as well as Hawaii quarterback Brayden Schager and former football, tennis and baseball players, according to court documents reviewed by USA TODAY Sports.

Patterson and Ouattara are currently in their fourth seasons, respectively, with Vanderbilt. It will be their final year of eligibility unless they play no more than four games this season, in which case they can redshirt and play in 2026. The suit argues the NCAA’s five-year rule, which gives athletes five years to play four seasons of their sport, ‘arbitrarily cut short college athletes’ ability to compete’ and violates antitrust laws.

Most sports don’t allow players that are redshirting to play at all in the given season. In college football, players can play up to four regular season games as well as up to five postseason contests.

According to the complaint provided to the Nashville Tennessean — part of the USA TODAY Network — the plaintiffs aren’t asking for unlimited eligibility, but rather want athletes to be able to play in all five seasons they are able to be part of a team. They argue since athletes are allowed to practice, participate in team activities and be in uniform for all of their games while utilizing a redshirt year — but not play in competition — they should be allowed to compete all five years.

The suit adds the rule forces players to pick as freshman to choose between having a fifth year of eligibility or playing immediately and not have an extra year, therefore forfeiting any possible earnings or income from name, image and likeness (NIL), as well as revenue sharing at their institution for all five years.

Meanwhile, players who redshirt can take advantage of earnings.

‘The NCAA has no basis to prohibit a player who is working just as hard as all of his teammates in practice, in the weight room, and in the classroom, from stepping on the field (or court) to compete against another school in one of those seasons,’ representing attorney Ryan Downton said in a statement. ‘Five years to practice, five years to graduate, five years to play.’

Downton also represented Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia in his challenge of NCAA rules regarding junior college years, which he won and was granted an extra year of eligibility.

There have been several lawsuits around the country that have challenged the NCAA eligibility requirements, mostly with players seeking to get another year. The results have varied, with some players granted another year while others have been denied. While those lawsuits have centered around one specific player, the suit filed on Sept. 2 wants to force the NCAA to change its rules.

‘The NCAA stands by its eligibility rules, including the five-year rule, which enable student-athletes to access the life-changing opportunity to be a student-athlete,’ an NCAA spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. ‘The NCAA is making changes to modernize college sports but attempts to dismantle widely supported academic requirements can only be addressed by partnering with Congress.’