The 2025 college football season is inching closer, but for South Carolina running back Rahsul Faison, there’s still one looming question: Will he be allowed to play?
Unfortunately, the latest legal developments suggest the answer might not be the one Gamecocks fans are hoping for.
In a key ruling on Monday, a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California denied preliminary injunctions sought by USC offensive lineman DJ Wingfield and UCLA wide receiver Kaedin Robinson. Both athletes were seeking an additional year of eligibility through legal action, citing arguments similar to those used successfully by Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia earlier this offseason. Pavia was granted a final year of eligibility after claiming the NCAA’s redshirt rule related to junior college players violated antitrust laws.
But in this most recent case, the court didn’t see it the same way.
So what does this mean for Rahsul Faison?
While Faison’s case wasn’t directly involved in Monday’s ruling, it does cast a shadow over his chances. Like Wingfield and Robinson, Faison is hoping to receive an extra year of eligibility after transferring from Utah State. His legal team is presumably preparing a similar argument — one that now appears to face an uphill battle.
Sports attorney Mitt Winter hinted at this unpredictability months ago, warning that decisions around these eligibility disputes can often come down to “the luck of the draw.” There’s no universal standard, no clear-cut precedent. One judge may view the argument favorably, while another may shut it down entirely.
If Wingfield and Robinson had succeeded, it could have created a ripple effect — possibly bolstering Faison’s position. But with the courts siding against the players in California, the outlook now seems murkier than ever.
Despite the legal limbo, Faison remains an active participant in South Carolina’s preseason training camp. Head coach Shane Beamer and his staff continue to include him in workouts and team activities while awaiting a final decision from the courts. Whether he’ll be cleared in time for the 2025 season opener remains uncertain.
For now, all Faison and the Gamecocks can do is wait.
The larger conversation around player eligibility, redshirt rules, and antitrust concerns continues to evolve. But in the short term, Monday’s ruling is a setback not just for Wingfield and Robinson — but potentially for every player like Rahsul Faison, stuck in a legal tug-of-war over one more chance to play the game they love.
South Carolina fans will be keeping a close eye on the next court decision, hoping that Faison’s case finds more favorable ground. Until then, the Gamecocks’ backfield picture remains in flux.