Injunction clears Clemson WR Tristan Smith to play

Field Level Media|published: Fri 12th June, 14:03 2026

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney with wide receiver Tristan Smith (3) before kickoff with Furman University at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, SC, Saturday, November 22, 2025.

Clemson wide receiver Tristan Smith is on track to play this season after receiving a temporary injunction against the NCAA on Friday.

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound senior sued the NCAA in January after it declined his waiver for a fifth season of eligibility.

Judge Jessica A. Salvini of South Carolina's 13th Judicial Circuit noted in her ruling that other former junior college players had been granted an additional year by the NCAA.

She pointed to wide receiver Malik Benson, who played two seasons of JUCO ball and received a fifth season for 2025 at Oregon.

"The only material distinction the Court can identify between Mr. Benson's case, and the instant matter is that Mr. Smith's final Division I season falls in 2025-26 rather than 2024-25," Salvini wrote.

The NCAA had granted former JUCO players in the 2024-25 class a blanket extra year of eligibility after Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia won a lawsuit against the NCAA.

"Big win for our client," Smith's attorney, Darren Heitner, posted on X after Friday's ruling. "... The NCAA's arbitrary application of its Five-Year Rule didn't hold up. Justice for Tristan!"

"The Marathon continues. I'm Back," Smith posted on Instagram.

Smith played two seasons at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College in 2022 and 2023 and one season at FCS program Southeast Missouri State in 2024 before joining Clemson in 2025. He caught 24 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown in 13 games last season for the Tigers.

--Field Level Media