OU linebacker Mike Balogun recently filed a lawsuit against the NCAA to fight allegations that he broke one of the association’s rules, a bylaw that restricts the eligibility of NCAA football players who play in an amateur football league after they turn 21.

Balogun claims he did not break the rule, but to us, it doesn’t matter whether he did or didn’t because the rule is illogical, especially in Balogun’s case.

He played for a semipro team before he came to OU, and says he didn’t play for the team after he turned 21. It shouldn’t matter though, because he didn’t get paid to play.

Here’s why that fact matters:

The NCAA also has a rule against athletes entering professional leagues, like the NFL, and then returning to the college ranks. This rule makes sense.

If a player plays in the NFL, obviously he should not be allowed to go back to college to play because he would have the unfair advantage of experience playing against and alongside other professionals. And because the player got paid to play in the NFL, he would have to be classified as a professional.

Balogun, however, did not play in the NFL. He played for a semipro team and did not get paid for it.

So he is still an amateur.

And what makes Balogun’s case worse is that it probably won’t matter whether he wins his case or not because of another unfair NCAA bylaw.

That one states that even if Balogun initially wins, the NCAA can appeal the ruling, and if it is overturned upon appeal, victories can be taken from OU and records from Balogun.

Therefore, it would not be surprising to see OU bench the linebacker for the season, even if he wins his case. Why risk losing victories for one player? It wouldn’t make sense for Bob Stoops and his crew.

Unfortunately for OU, both of these bylaws come into play in one case, but OU is not the only university susceptible to these unfair rules, as the NCAA governs many colleges big and small around the country.