Oklahoma LB Owen Heinecke's Appeal Denied by NCAA

Heinecke's three games as an Ohio State lacrosse player led to the denial

Jan. 29, 2026 at 10:15pm

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Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke, one of the Sooners' best defenders, has had his appeal to the NCAA for another year of eligibility denied. Heinecke spent 2021-22 as a freshman lacrosse player at Ohio State, appearing in three games, before transferring to Oklahoma. He didn't play in 2022, but became a special teams staple over the next two seasons and took over as the starting middle linebacker this season, finishing second on the team with 74 tackles and 12 tackles for loss.

Why it matters

Heinecke's denial of an additional year of eligibility is a significant blow to the Oklahoma football team, as he had emerged as a key defensive contributor. The NCAA's decision highlights the complex rules around player eligibility, particularly for those who have participated in multiple sports.

The details

Heinecke spent 2021-22 as a freshman lacrosse player at Ohio State, appearing in three games for the Buckeyes in the spring of 2022 before transferring to Oklahoma. He didn't play in 2022, before becoming a special teams staple each of the next two seasons. This season, Heinecke moved into the rotation at linebacker and by the end of the season had taken over for Kobie McKinzie as the starting middle linebacker. He finished second on the team with 74 tackles and 12 tackles for loss, and also added four pass breakups, three sacks, two quarterback hurries and forced a fumble.

  • Heinecke spent 2021-22 as a freshman lacrosse player at Ohio State.
  • Heinecke appeared in three games for Ohio State in the spring of 2022.
  • Heinecke transferred to Oklahoma and did not play in 2022.
  • Heinecke became a special teams staple for Oklahoma in 2023 and 2024.
  • Heinecke took over as the starting middle linebacker for Oklahoma in 2025.

The players

Owen Heinecke

An Oklahoma linebacker who had his appeal for an additional year of eligibility denied by the NCAA.

Jim Nagy

The Oklahoma general manager who posted on X (formerly Twitter) about Heinecke's denied appeal.

Kobie McKinzie

The Oklahoma linebacker who Heinecke replaced as the starting middle linebacker.

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What they’re saying

“NCAA has denied Owen Heinecke's petition for another year at OU. When other players are being granted 7th and 8th years of football, CFB governing body has ruled Owen won't get a 4th year. Evidently, this walk-on's three games of lacrosse at Ohio State...”

— Jim Nagy, Oklahoma General Manager

What’s next

OU will make a final appeal of the NCAA's decision, but if that is denied, Heinecke will be off to the NFL.

The takeaway

Heinecke's denied appeal highlights the complex and sometimes inconsistent nature of NCAA eligibility rules, which can have significant impacts on student-athletes and their teams. This case raises questions about the NCAA's decision-making process and whether it is fairly applied across all sports and situations.