NCAA's Owen Heinecke decision sends college football into full outrage mode

Late Thursday night, Oklahoma general manager Jim Nagy revealed that the NCAA did not grant OU linebacker Owen Heinecke another year of eligibility, and that decision was so terrible that it infuriated the entire college football world, as even Texas and Oklahoma State fans sided with their rival Sooners.

After listing Heinecke as a redshirt junior on the roster during the 2025 season, OU petitioned the NCAA for Heinecke to get one more year with the Sooners. Heinecke's college journey started in 2021 as a lacrosse player at Ohio State after receiving little interest as a football player out of Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He appeared in only three games and totaled about 15 minutes of garbage time with the Buckeyes as a lacrosse player, but the NCAA still counted that like a full season of football toward Heinecke's eligibility.

Heinecke then transferred to OU and walked onto the football team. He was hurt in 2022 and didn't appear in a single game that season. After contributing on special teams in 2023 and 2024, Heinecke had a breakout season in 2025 while eventually earning a starting job and recording 74 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks and forced a fumble while playing in all 13 games. He was named Second-Team All-SEC.

After a loss to Alabama in the College Football Playoff, Heinecke pleaded with the NCAA for that not to be his final game in crimson and cream as he hoped they'd favor loyalty since he wasn't like many other athletes hopping schools and chasing money. He had actually stayed at one program during his football career and earned more playing time.

Apparently the NCAA didn't listen, though, while making the wrong decision yet again after allowing other players to get seventh seasons and even letting pros back into college basketball. Nagy said OU will appeal the ruling and made sure to point how foolish the NCAA's decision was, but he was still subdued compared to college football fans around the country.

Not just Oklahoma fans were furious about NCAA's Owen Heinecke ruling

And it's not just OU fans who find the NCAA's decision mindless, but all of college football.

Even Texas and Oklahoma State fans sided with their rival over the NCAA.