Cole Hutson got news in his injunction case, but the Longhorns head coach is still wary of the legal process' finality.
Texas Longhorns veteran offensive lineman Cole Hutson previously had an Aug. 10 court date set for his injunction hearing, which could grant him a fifth year of collegiate eligibility and allow him to return to Austin for the 2026 season.
But a reported agreement appears to put the Frisco native on the fast track to a legal win over the NCAA.
Public records show that Hutson's case has voided the need for an Aug. 10 hearing. The NCAA deemed that his legal battle will fall under a similar process as the Wisne v. NCAA case in Colorado, which gives all high school class of 2022 athletes an additional year to compete.
Still, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian is approaching the situation with caution while Hutson remains away from the program.
"I don't really have much of an update yet, I think we'll find out more about Cole here probably within the next week or so," Sarkisian said at his press conference to begin fall camp.
"I think there's some positive signs to that thing coming to fruition, but we'll see what happens."
The interior lineman played in 48 games, starting 23, in his four seasons at Texas. Last season, Hutson saw five starts at center and five at left guard.
Hutson was previously named to an Academic All-Big 12 team and was a member of two squads that were semifinalists or better for the Joe Moore Award given annually to the most outstanding offensive line unit in college football.
When Hutson as not called in the 2026 NFL Draft, he still found himself in an opportunity to move on to the next level. He received invites to the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns' rookie minicamps as an undrafted free agent, but ultimately did not receive a training camp spot from either team.
That is when Hutson found a legal pursuit could grant him additional eligibility, which could reload a Longhorns line with loads of experience to protect star quarterback Arch Manning.
Hutson's peers, tackles Trevor Goosby and Brandon Baker, were each named to the Outland Trophy preseason watch list as two of the best linemen in the nation.
Against one of the country's toughest schedules, it's no surprise to find Sarkisian optimistic in returning a group that features Goosby, Baker, and - now more likely than ever - Hutson.
