Zeigler’s lawsuit requests a preliminary injunction to let him compete in the upcoming season while pursuing graduate studies.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A popular former University of Tennessee basketball player filed a lawsuit Tuesday, aiming to keep his eligibility to play for an additional year while collecting compensation for his name, image and likeness while pursuing his graduate degree.
Zakai Zeigler said he is hoping to compete in his fifth year of college basketball and argued that he has a five-year eligibility window, despite already graduating from UT’s undergraduate program. The lawsuit argues that an “arbitrary” National Collegiate Athletic Association rule limits student-athletes to participating in four seasons of competition.
The lawsuit argues that many other student-athletes compete during their fifth year of eligibility and earn compensation for their name, image and likeness while playing. The lawsuit said Zeigler’s NIL valuation for the 2025-2026 season ranges between $2 million and $4 million.
It said if he had been barred from playing for a single year through the NCAA redshirt system, he would still be eligible to play now, and argued that through the system, the NCAA ultimately gets to decide if student-athletes have the chance to play during their fifth year of eligibility instead of the student-athletes themselves.
“But, because Zeigler participated in athletics for four consecutive years, the NCAA bars him from representing his school in interscholastic competition in the fifth year of the competition window—and thereby excludes him from the market for NIL compensation,” the lawsuit said.
Typically, “redshirted” student-athletes have the chance to sit out for a year, but still maintain their four-year eligibility. These kinds of student-athletes are usually still allowed to practice with the team, receive academic scholarships and financial aid, attend class or train with a coach. The system is meant to give student-athletes a chance to recover from injuries, improve their GPA or sharpen their skills, according to North Central College.
The lawsuit also claims the NCAA’s rule violates the Sherman Act, constituting an “unreasonable restraint of trade” because when student-athletes’ eligibility ends, they are effectively locked out of the NIL market.
“For Zeigler specifically, his NIL earning potential in a fifth year of eligibility would substantially exceed his current earning potential due to his established performance record and name recognition,” the lawsuit said. “By restricting Zeigler’s participation in this market through an arbitrary limitation on player eligibility, the NCAA directly impacts his ability to compete in the commercial marketplace.”
It also argues that effectively undoing the four-season rule would further the NCAA’s academic mission.
Zeigler graduated this week after completing UT’s retail and merchandising management undergraduate program. While studying and playing with the Tennessee basketball team, he also partnered with at least one local law firm for promotional content.
Garza Law Firm sponsored his sold-out “I AM G.I.A.N.T. Basketball Camp” in April 2025. He also appeared in a video promoting the law firm. Zeigler is represented by Litson PLLC and the Garza Law Firm.
The lawsuit asks for a 12-person jury to review the case, and for a judgment that the NCAA’s four-season rule violates the Sherman Act, as well as the Tennessee Trade Practices Act. It also asks for a preliminary and permanent injunction keeping the NCAA from enforcing the rule against Zeigler, allowing him to compete next season.
NCAA said it fully supports student-athletes profiting from their name, image and likeness. It also said different state laws, executive orders, and court opinions make it challenging for any league to “operate on a fair playing field.” Its full statement is available below.
“The NCAA fully supports all student-athletes profiting from their name, image and likeness and receiving new financial benefits from their schools in addition to the many current benefits they get and is working to bring about these reforms, including through the recent settlement proposal. A patchwork of different state laws, executive orders and court opinions, make it challenging for any league to operate on a fair playing field, including at the conference level and that’s why partnering with Congress to develop a national standard would provide stability for student-athletes and schools everywhere.”
Tennessee Basketball has 12 out of 13 scholarship players on the 2025-26 roster.
