OU redshirt junior linebacker Owen Heinecke has filed a preliminary injunction against the NCAA for another year of eligibility, according to SoonerScoop's George Stoia.
The injunction was filed in Cleveland County. The judge assigned to the case, Thad Balkman, is an OU Law graduate. Heinecke’s legal counsel includes Michael Lauderdale, another OU Law alum, and Woody Glass, who was OU football's Chief of Staff before retiring last season.
To be given the injunction, he will present his case to an Oklahoma state judge before receiving another year of eligibility if successful, barring an appeal from the NCAA.
OU athletics director Roger Denny provided a statement to SoonerScoop in approval of Heinecke's action.
“OU fully supports Owen and his pursuit of a fair opportunity to continue playing the game he loves," Denny said to SoonerScoop. "We’ll stand firmly beside him as he works to do just that.”
Notably, Trinidad Chambliss, a fifth-year senior quarterback at Mississippi, successfully filed for an injunction after suing the NCAA, a ruling the college sports governing body is now appealing.
Heinecke's injunction comes after his initial petition for eligibility was denied on Jan. 29 and his appeal as well on Feb. 24. The NCAA is counting three games of lacrosse he played his freshman year at Ohio State against him.
Heinecke started as a walk-on player at OU before recording 86 tackles, four pass deflections and three sacks across four seasons as a Sooner. He finished with 74 tackles, four pass deflections and three sacks in 2025 after playing in all 13 games and starting five.
The injunction date is set for 8:30 a.m. on April 16.
