Ohio executive action clears the way for UC’s MJ Collins and Xavier’s Filip Borovicanin to return for 2026-27 season

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s latest executive action has cleared a path for two high-profile players tied to the state’s college basketball pipeline, ruling University of Cincinnati guard MJ Collins and Xavier University forward Filip Borovicanin eligible for the 2026-27 season. The decision, reported Thursday by Yahoo Sports, gives both programs another shot to add veteran, game-ready talent after a public dispute that they have framed as a move from courtrooms back to the basketball floor.

For Cincinnati, Collins’ eligibility matters because it affects how the Bearcats can plan their perimeter rotation for the season ahead. Collins has been identified in recent coverage as a player seeking a return to Division I play, and his eligibility ruling now extends the window for Cincinnati to build around that capability as it turns its attention to roster depth and backcourt continuity for 2026-27.

For Xavier, Borovicanin’s eligibility carries similar significance on the wing. As a forward, he represents another possible piece for Xavier’s frontcourt spacing and match-up versatility. In a college basketball landscape where roster turnover is constant, official permission to return can translate into more stability in the early-building phase of the season.

Both players’ situation has been described as an effort to move from legal proceedings to basketball competition. According to the Yahoo report, the eligibility ruling is tied directly to an executive order, meaning the teams now have a confirmed basis to treat their returns as part of the upcoming season’s planning rather than a prolonged uncertainty.

The ruling also highlights the unusual intersection of state executive power and NCAA eligibility rules in the current era of college sports. While NCAA guidelines are typically governed through standard eligibility processes, an executive action can become a critical step for athletes pursuing a resolution that allows them to participate as scheduled.

At this stage, the most practical question for fans in Cincinnati and Xavier is how quickly each program can incorporate its newly eligible piece into the team’s on-court identity. That will depend on normal offseason factors such as conditioning, role fit, and continuity with returning teammates, none of which were detailed in the initial report.

What to watch next is whether additional school and NCAA documentation follows this eligibility ruling, and how it changes each program’s preseason preparation and rotation assumptions for the 2026-27 season. With the court-related uncertainty temporarily narrowed, the focus can shift from eligibility hurdles to basketball execution once the teams begin building game plans for the new year.