“If we are going to make a decision to give them the fifth year, let's do it in April," Izzo said on a CBS Sports News Podcast. "And then you wouldn't recruit guys, now I've recruited guys in positions where I can't bring another guy in.”

Izzo stressed that the timing of the decision was absurd as team's rosters are already set. While Izzo said he is not adding anyone, other schools may.

“There are going to be kids leaving campus next week thinking that they got their team together,” Izzo said, later adding: “They might have two new teammates and, shazam, some of them might be in the position they're at.” 

U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney granted a preliminary injunction on Friday allowing athletes who graduated high school in 2022 to receive an additional year of eligibility under the NCAA’s “five-for-five” rule.

According to the new standard, student-athletes are granted five years of eligibility inside a continuous five-year window starting upon full-time college enrollment or turning 19. Sweeney clarified on Sunday that the ruling meant that players can only return to their former schools. 

In June, Kohler signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Utah Jazz and played in the NBA Summer League. An Exhibit 10 contract is a non-guaranteed NBA deal that gives a player an opportunity to compete for a roster spot. 

In the interview, Izzo said that MSU currently has "a really good team."

The current 2026-27 roster includes 15 players for Izzo’s 32nd team, one transfer addition, four freshmen, three walk-ons and three returning starters.

“All I know is my team is good enough to be very good," Izzo said. "Whether it's good enough to be elite, only time will tell."