Chauncey Wiggins Lawsuit Update, Gonzaga Forward Withdraws From Georgia NCAA Case, Texas Judge Signals TRO Denial

Status as of October 30, 2026: Wiggins remains ineligible to play for Gonzaga. His Georgia withdrawal was without prejudice (not a ruling against him), and the Texas judge tentatively denied his emergency request, subject to additional briefing. A final signed order was not available in the public sources reviewed.

Gonzaga basketball forward Chauncey Wiggins has withdrawn from a Georgia lawsuit challenging the NCAA’s eligibility rules and tried to join a separate Texas case, hoping to play during the 2026-27 season. The change in strategy has not yet restored his eligibility.

Wiggins was one of 16 athletes who voluntarily withdrew from Godfrey v. NCAA, according to a dismissal notice filed in Cobb County Superior Court on October 27, 2026. The dismissal was without prejudice, so it was not a court ruling against his claims. He then sought to join Wheeler v. NCAA, pending in McLennan County, Texas.

On October 29, Texas Judge Ryan Luna tentatively denied a temporary restraining order (TRO) for Wiggins and other athletes who had already pursued similar relief in other states, and indicated he would formalize the denial unless the additional briefing changed his mind.

Chauncey Wiggins Lawsuit: Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Athlete	Chauncey Wiggins, Gonzaga forward
Former teams	Clemson (three seasons), Florida State (2025-26)
Georgia lawsuit	Godfrey v. NCAA, Cobb County Superior Court, Case No. 26CV05617
Georgia case filed	July 9, 2026
Georgia injunction	August 5, 2026 (Judge Henry R. Thompson)
Georgia stay	September 9, 2026 (Georgia Court of Appeals)
Georgia withdrawal	October 27, 2026, voluntary dismissal without prejudice
New route	Attempt to join Wheeler v. NCAA, 414th Judicial District Court, McLennan County, Texas
Texas judge	Ryan Luna
Latest development	October 29, 2026: emergency TRO tentatively denied
Main issue	Whether athletes can play a fifth season under the NCAA’s eligibility rules
Playing status	Ineligible as of October 30, 2026
Next Gonzaga game	Season opener against Purdue, scheduled for November 2, 2026
Class action?	No
Settlement or payout	None

What Is the “5-in-5” Eligibility Fight?

These lawsuits are often called “5-in-5” cases. They challenge NCAA rules that limit most athletes to four seasons of competition within a five-year window, arguing the rules are inconsistently applied, outdated or unlawful in the era of the transfer portal and name, image and likeness (NIL) money. The plaintiffs want a fifth season of play. Different courts have reached different results, and several injunctions have been granted and later paused on appeal.

Why Did Wiggins Withdraw From the Georgia Lawsuit?

Godfrey v. NCAA was filed July 9, 2026 in Cobb County Superior Court by 30 men’s basketball players from the high school Class of 2022 who had finished four college seasons and wanted another in 2026-27. They argued the NCAA treated their class inconsistently with its own bylaws, and brought claims for breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and violations of the Georgia Fair Business Practices Act. They also argued athletes are intended third-party beneficiaries of the NCAA’s agreements with member schools, which would let them enforce eligibility rules.

August 5: The Georgia Judge Grants an Injunction

Judge Henry R. Thompson granted an interlocutory injunction after finding the plaintiffs likely to succeed on parts of their contract and consumer-protection claims. He found the NCAA appeared to apply its framework inconsistently, including to athletes who redshirted, played at junior colleges or participated in professional sports. The order also restricted the NCAA from enforcing its Rule of Restitution and certain transfer-related penalties against the plaintiffs, their schools and coaches, which matters because schools can face penalties if an athlete later is ruled ineligible. That ruling cleared Wiggins to commit to Gonzaga as a fifth-year player.

An interlocutory injunction is temporary relief while a case continues. It is not a final finding that the NCAA broke the law.

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September 9: The Appeals Court Stays the Injunction

The NCAA appealed, and on September 9 the Georgia Court of Appeals stayed the injunction pending the appeal. The order did not give a detailed explanation or decide whether the NCAA’s policy was lawful. The practical effect was that Wiggins and the other plaintiffs could no longer rely on it to play. Appellate arguments were scheduled for January 12, 2027, months into Gonzaga’s season.

October 27: Voluntary Dismissal

A notice of voluntary dismissal without prejudice was filed on October 27, according to The Spokesman-Review. The 16 withdrawing players included Arizona’s RJ Godfrey and other basketball players seeking another season. The move was strategic: the Georgia timeline risked sidelining players for much of the season, so they sought a faster path in Texas. The NCAA characterizes this kind of move as shopping for a more favorable court, while the players say they are simply seeking timely relief.

What Does “Without Prejudice” Mean?

When a plaintiff voluntarily dismisses without prejudice, the dismissal generally does not prevent them from bringing the claim again. It is not the same as losing at trial, a dismissal with prejudice, or a finding that the claim lacks merit. But it also does not give Wiggins a right to play. He still needs a valid court order or eligibility decision allowing him to compete.

Why Did Wiggins Try to Join the Texas Case?

Wheeler v. NCAA already included athletes who had won preliminary injunctive relief in September allowing them to compete through at least December 14, 2026, when the case is scheduled to proceed to trial. The original plaintiffs include Baylor football player Hosea Wheeler, Texas Tech basketball player Darrion Williams, Utah State guard Dallin Hall and former Washington State guard Nate Calmese.

An injunction granted to one group does not automatically cover people who join later, so Wiggins needed Judge Luna to grant relief to him.

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October 29: Texas Judge Tentatively Denies the Emergency Request

Judge Luna of the 414th Judicial District Court heard arguments October 29. According to The Spokesman-Review’s courtroom report, he allowed the group to appear in the Texas case but tentatively denied the TRO for Wiggins and others who had already gone through similar proceedings on the merits in Georgia and Tennessee. He said he would formalize the denial “unless something in the briefing overwhelms me,” and gave the lawyers until 10 p.m. to submit more briefing.

The NCAA’s Argument: Judicial Estoppel

The NCAA argued that athletes who asked Georgia and Tennessee courts to apply those states’ contract law should not switch to Texas law because their earlier cases hit obstacles. This is the doctrine of judicial estoppel, which can bar a party from taking a position that conflicts with one it earlier persuaded another court to accept.

The Athletes’ Argument: Irreparable Harm

Wiggins’ attorney, Ryan Downton, argued the athletes would suffer irreparable harm without eligibility, including losing a season of college basketball, scholarship opportunities, NIL earnings, exposure to professional teams and career development.

The tentative ruling was a setback, but it did not decide the underlying eligibility dispute.

Will Wiggins Play for Gonzaga This Season?

As of October 30, he remains ineligible. Gonzaga’s season opener against Purdue is scheduled for November 2, and the tentative ruling makes emergency relief by then unlikely unless a later order changes things. Gonzaga coach Mark Few told The Spokesman-Review that Wiggins has practiced daily and fit in well, and that he hopes Wiggins becomes eligible.

Teammates Xaivian Lee and Javon Bennett have been eligible through separate proceedings in California and Ohio. Those orders do not decide Wiggins’ rights, because each athlete’s case turns on its own court, state law and procedural history. Results across these lawsuits have been inconsistent.

Who Is Chauncey Wiggins?

Wiggins played three seasons at Clemson before a breakout 2025-26 season at Florida State, then committed to Gonzaga in August 2026 after the Georgia injunction.

2025-26 Florida State Statistic	Average
Points	13.3 per game
Rebounds	3.9 per game
Field-goal percentage	48.1%
Three-point percentage	38.9%
Games played	32

He made 72 three-pointers that season, and his shooting is a key reason Gonzaga wanted him.

Key Legal Terms

• TRO (temporary restraining order): A short-term emergency order meant to preserve the situation until the court can hear a longer request.
• Preliminary or interlocutory injunction: Temporary relief while the lawsuit continues.
• Stay: An appellate order pausing a lower court’s ruling while the appeal is decided.
• Without prejudice: A dismissal that generally leaves the plaintiff free to sue again.
• Judicial estoppel: A doctrine preventing inconsistent positions across cases.

How Is This Different From Other NCAA Eligibility Cases?

• The Diego Pavia lawsuit focused on how the NCAA counts junior-college seasons and helped produce a broader waiver for former junior-college athletes.
• The Joey Aguilar lawsuit also involves former junior-college players and the NCAA’s treatment of them.
• The Trinidad Chambliss lawsuit concerns an additional season after a denied medical hardship waiver.

Wiggins’ case challenges how the NCAA treats the Class of 2022 under its broader eligibility model, not a junior-college count or a medical waiver.

Chauncey Wiggins Lawsuit Timeline

Date	Event
July 9, 2026	Godfrey v. NCAA filed in Cobb County, Georgia
August 5, 2026	Georgia judge grants injunction for 30 athletes
Early August 2026	Wiggins commits to Gonzaga
September 9, 2026	Georgia Court of Appeals stays the injunction
September 2026	Texas court grants preliminary relief to original Wheeler plaintiffs
October 27, 2026	Wiggins and 15 others voluntarily dismiss the Georgia case without prejudice
October 29, 2026	Judge Luna tentatively denies the TRO
November 2, 2026	Gonzaga’s scheduled season opener against Purdue
December 14, 2026	Scheduled trial date in Wheeler for the original plaintiffs
January 12, 2027	Scheduled Georgia appellate arguments

What Happens Next?

In Texas: Watch for Judge Luna’s signed order, any further briefing and whether Wiggins can pursue another form of relief or an appeal. In Georgia: The injunction remains stayed, and the appeal continues for any athletes who remain parties. The wider question of whether state contract law lets athletes challenge NCAA eligibility decisions has not been finally resolved.

Chauncey Wiggins Lawsuit FAQs

Why did Chauncey Wiggins withdraw from the Georgia lawsuit?

To seek faster relief in Texas. The Georgia injunction was stayed, and appellate arguments were not until January 2027.

Did he lose his Georgia case?

No ruling on the merits was reported. The dismissal was voluntary and without prejudice.

Did the Texas judge let him play?

No. On October 29, Judge Luna tentatively denied the TRO and allowed additional briefing before signing an order.

Why did the NCAA oppose his joining the Texas case?

It argued judicial estoppel: athletes who relied on Georgia or Tennessee law should not switch to Texas law after those cases hit obstacles.

Is he eligible for Gonzaga?

Not as of October 30, 2026. He would need a new court order or eligibility decision.

When does Gonzaga’s season start?

The season opener against Purdue is scheduled for November 2, 2026.

Is this a class action?

No. Godfrey involved multiple named athletes and was not a certified class action.

Is there a settlement or payment?

No. The suit seeks eligibility, not a settlement payout.

Bottom Line

Wiggins withdrew from the Georgia case because the stay of his injunction and the slow appeal left him without timely relief. The withdrawal was procedural and without prejudice. His Texas attempt hit an early obstacle when Judge Luna tentatively denied his emergency request, so he remained ineligible as of October 30. The next step is the judge’s signed order and whether any other route to play opens up.

AllAboutLawyer.com is an independent legal information website, not a law firm. This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Court proceedings and eligibility decisions can change, and reported arguments in active litigation are not final judicial findings.

Sources and Court Documents

1. Godfrey v. NCAA, Order Granting Interlocutory Injunction, August 5, 2026, Cobb County Superior Court, No. 26CV05617: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FASUR2uW0q3tHCBT4_2aPbVTIjEnI5ew/view?usp=drive_link
2. NCAA v. Godfrey, Court of Appeals of Georgia, Order Granting Stay Pending Appeal, September 9, 2026: https://www.leagle.com/decision/ingaco20260909210
3. The Spokesman-Review, October 28, 2026, Wiggins seeks expedited relief: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/oct/28/seeking-expedited-relief-gonzagas-chauncey-wiggins/
4. The Spokesman-Review, October 29, 2026, Texas judge tentatively denies TRO: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/oct/29/texas-judge-denies-tro-for-chauncey-wiggins-that-k/
5. The Spokesman-Review, August 6, 2026, Gonzaga adds Wiggins after Georgia injunction: https://spokesman.com/stories/2026/aug/06/gonzaga-makes-second-5-in-5-addition-with-commitme
6. Sports Illustrated, Another NCAA eligibility ruling creates new possibilities for Gonzaga: https://www.si.com/college/gonzaga/basketball/another-ncaa-eligibility-ruling-creates-new-possibilities-gonzaga-bulldogs
7. The College Sports Litigation Tracker, Godfrey v. NCAA and related cases: https://www.collegesportslitigationtracker.com/tracker
8. Florida State University, Chauncey Wiggins 2025-26 statistics: https://seminoles.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/wiggins-chauncey/8048

Research note: The Georgia injunction and appellate stay are attributed to the court orders and news reports. The October 29 Texas ruling is described as tentative based on The Spokesman-Review’s courtroom report; the signed order was not independently reviewed. The “5-in-5” explanation reflects how the rules are commonly described in coverage and the complaints should be consulted for each plaintiff’s precise claims.