NCAA approves Montana LB Solomon Tuliaupupu for 9th season

Field Level Media|published: Wed 11th February, 24:57 2026

Nov 22, 2025; Missoula, MT, USA; Montana State Bobcats running back Julius Davis (32) is tackled by Montana Grizzlies linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu (58) and linebacker Peyton Wing (32) during the first half at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Thomas Shroyer-Imagn Images

College football is set to have its second nine-year player after the NCAA granted Montana linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu another season of eligibility.

Tuliaupupu is set to join tight end Cam McCormick in the nine-year club. McCormick spent 2016-22 at Oregon before playing for Miami in 2023 and '24. He is mow a scouting assistant for the New England Patriots.

Tuliaupupu first arrived in college at Southern California out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif., in 2018 but missed that season and the following one due to a foot injury. A knee injury sustained in the summer of 2020 kept him out that year, and he didn't play for the Trojans the following year after missing spring practice.

He finally saw action in 2022, making 10 tackles, including 2.5 sacks, in 14 games.

Another training camp injury cost Tuliaupupu the entire 2023 season, but he returned to play nine games for USC in 2024, registering 13 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery.

Tuliaupupu transferred to Montana for the 2025 season, and he played in 14 games, producing 43 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles. The Grizzlies finished 13-2, reaching the FCS semifinals.

Montana also announced that offensive lineman Dylan Jemtegaard was cleared by the NCAA to play a sixth season of college ball in 2026.

--Field Level Media