Texas football lineman Cole Hutson remains ineligible, says Steve Sarkisian

Offensive lineman Cole Hutson did not play in Saturday's season-opening win over Texas State and remains ineligible to play for Texas football after winning a court battle to play a fifth season, but head coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday he expects the one-time starter to suit up sooner than later for the Longhorns. "Technically, today he (Hutson) is ineligible, not because of the ruling, because of something different when it comes to the NCAA that he's working through," Sarkisian said. Sarkisian didn't go into detail about Hutson's eligibility, but described it as "an appeal process with the NCAA." He could still play in Saturday's home game against No. 1 Ohio State, based on the timing of the NCAA's ruling. Sarkisian also quickly pointed out that Hutson's scenario differs significantly from players like Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris of LSU, who won a controversial decision from a federal judge based in Baton Rouge, La., that granted them a fifth year of eligibility after playing in NFL preseason games. The SEC reacted to that ruling last month by quickly adopting a rule that bans any player who signed an NFL, NBA, or WNBA contract — or spent time on a pro roster — from returning to play for a conference team. MORE: Texas RB Derrek Cooper out for Ohio State game, 'foreseeable future,' Steve Sarkisian says "We are respecting the SEC's decision, and once (Hutson) can get cleared, and if he gets cleared from the NCAA, then we'll go back to the SEC," Sarkisian said. Sarkisian also said that Hutson "falls under a little different category than what so much of the hoopla was made around," referring to the Wright and Harris ruling. "I think it needs to be stated, and it needs to be clear: Cole never signed a professional contract," Sarkisian said. "He was never technically a professional player. He tried out, and that's what those tryout camps were. But he was technically not a signed player, and so he falls under a little different caveat. We'll leave it up to the NCAA, and then we'll leave it up to the to the SEC to determine if he's eligible to play for us or not." Hutson sued the NCAA in July in Texas for an extra year of college eligibility after the NCAA announced a new plan for athletes to have five years once they enter college. A federal judge recently ruled in favor of players like Hutson and other members of the 2022 recruiting class to grant them another year. Hutson played in 48 games with 23 starts at center and guard from 2022-25 with Texas but went undrafted after last season. He participated in minicamps with the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys, but did not earn a pro contract. If the 6-foot-5, 308-pound Hutson wins his appeal to the NCAA and garners a fifth year of eligibility, he'll likely serve as a backup interior lineman who can spell guards Dylan Sikorski, Laurence Seymore III and Brandon Baker as well as center Connor Robertson. He's able to practice with the Longhorns and remains on the roster.