UCF LB Cole Kozlowksi Granted Eligibility for 2026 Season

Cole Kozlowski's career is back on track after a recent ruling granted him eligibility for the rest of the 2026 season, bolstering a UCF Knights linebacker corps depleted by injuries.

This ruling comes a month after his collegiate career faced a major crossroads. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals granted the NCAA a stay on Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court of Colorado's ruling on Aug. 21.

Kozlowski said he's blessed to suit up, play the sport he's loved since he was five and thanked McCarter & English, a New Jersey Law Firm that helped him receive his eligibility on X.

His return comes at a crucial time for UCF, as the team will face No. 19 Oklahoma State and No. 10 BYU over the next three weeks. The team blew a 17-point third-quarter lead to No. 20 Houston on Saturday, starting the stretch on a rough note.

Linebacker Lewis Carter has missed the last two games, and trainers tended to Jayden Jennings against the Cougars. Jennings was ruled out for the rest of the game and sidelined with his arm in a sling.

Carter and Jennings are the two most experienced linebackers in defensive coordinator Alex Grinch's system. Losing them to injury puts pressure on transfers Tackett Curtis and Jahleel Culbreath to step up, which they have.

Adding Kozlowski to the rotation gives the Knights proven production and a familiar face on the field.

He earned All-Big 12 Third Team honors last season after transferring from Colgate. The then-senior finished second on the team with 82 tackles (48 solo) behind Carter and 7.5 tackles for loss.

UCF needs all the help it can get over the next few weeks with injuries piling up. The linebackers help contain the run, cover the middle and spy the quarterback.

Those three areas are what killed the Knights last Saturday. Houston quarterback Conner Weigman kept completing passes across the middle and had three rushing touchdowns.

The Knights' defense has dearly missed their leader, Carter. Kozlowski could be the next linebacker to handle the mantle until he returns from injury.

He and his legal team have fought valiantly for months to reach this outcome.

Courts initially denied his appeal, then another court overturned it several months later with a different ruling. UCF placed him on the roster, and Kozlowski made appearances during fall camp.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals then halted his return, and his career was in limbo. He stood beside his teammates on the sidelines throughout this process.

Now, he gets to play beside them and help the Knights break a two-year bowl drought.