The Cincinnati Bearcats are looking to add two more Utah State players after the 5-in-5 rule was passed

The NCAA DI Cabinet approved a new 5-year age-based eligibility model on June 23rd, meaning that players who were true seniors last season could try to earn back a final year of eligibility. Two players who were a part of Jerrod Calhoun's NCAA tournament team were part of an injunction filed in Ohio, trying to gain a final year of eligibility.

Those two players are 6-foot-4 guard MJ Collins and 6-foot-1 guard Kolby King. Both players spent the past season with Jerrod Calhoun, where Collins averaged 17.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists, earning All-Mountain West Second Team. King averaged 7.5 points and 2.5 rebounds last season, but shot 39.3% from three-point range, something every team can use.

Along with new players regaining eligibility, current seniors will also gain an extra year. Current Cincinnati Bearcat Seniors Tylen Riley, Tyler Tejada, Trevian Carson, Myles Colvin, and Riley Allenspach all gained an additional year of eligibility for the 2027-28 season.

With the injunction being filed in Ohio likely to be granted, many high-level college athletes will be available alongside Collins and King. CBS Sports College Basketball Analyst gave names such as Dayton's Javon Bennett, Penn State's Josh Reed, Zaire Wells, and Filip Borovicanin who will also being fighting for a fifth season all as true seniors in 2025-26.

If Collins and King were both actually to join the team, they would join Elijah Perryman, Adlan Elamin, and David Iweze, all of whom played for Calhoun at Utah State last season, making it 5 players from last year's roster to make it to the round of 32 on the Cincinnati Bearcats.

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