Owen Heinecke Eligibility Denial Sparks Oklahoma, NCAA Tension

Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke has run into a surprising eligibility roadblock at a time when extended college careers have become increasingly common. Despite recent NCAA decisions granting sixth, seventh, and even eighth years of eligibility to some players, Heinecke was denied a fourth football season because of three lacrosse appearances at Ohio State.

The ruling immediately drew pushback from Oklahoma’s leadership, with Sooners general manager Jim Nagy publicly criticizing the NCAA’s decision. Posting on X, Nagy pointed out the contrast between Heinecke’s denial and the extra years awarded to other athletes across college football.

Nagy emphasized that Oklahoma plans to appeal the ruling and praised Owen Heinecke for his professionalism and character. He added that if the appeal fails, an NFL team will eventually benefit from what he described as a high-quality player and an even better person.

The NCAA’s decision centers entirely on Heinecke’s brief stint at Ohio State in the spring of 2021. Although he never played a snap of football for the Buckeyes, he appeared in three lacrosse games, which officially started his five-year eligibility clock under NCAA rules.

After leaving Ohio State, Owen Heinecke transferred to Oklahoma in 2022 and spent the 2023 season redshirting. During the 2023 and 2024 seasons, he primarily contributed on special teams while working his way up the depth chart.

His role expanded significantly in 2025, when he earned the starting inside linebacker spot during the critical stretch of November. Heinecke finished the season with 74 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks, four passes defended, and a forced fumble, emerging as one of the Sooners’ most reliable defenders.

If the appeal is denied, Heinecke will be forced to move on to the NFL earlier than expected, potentially hurting his draft stock due to limited starting experience. He is currently participating in practices for the Panini Senior Bowl, where a strong showing could help him gain attention from NFL scouts.

From Oklahoma’s perspective, losing Owen would be another blow to an already thin linebacker group. Brent Venables would be down his fourth linebacker of the offseason, following the departures of Kendal Daniels, Sammy Omosigho, and Kobie McKinzie.

Looking ahead, Oklahoma’s projected starting inside linebackers would be Kip Lewis, who is entering his final season, and Michigan transfer Cole Sullivan. That reality makes linebacker depth a clear concern for the Sooners heading into the next season.

At the core of Heinecke’s case is the NCAA’s eligibility policy, which counts participation in any sport once a student enrolls full-time. Unlike football, where players can appear in up to four games and still redshirt, lacrosse rules count even brief playing time as a full season.

Heinecke previously explained that his limited lacrosse action came early in his freshman year and ended due to inexperience, not injury. Still, those few minutes on the field now threaten to close the door on his college career, raising questions about fairness and consistency in NCAA eligibility rulings.

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