Jacory Croskey-Merritt was ruled ineligible by the NCAA to play for Arizona after just one game in the 2024 season due to an eligibility issue related to redshirting and jersey number usage at his previous school, Alabama State. The core of the problem was that he technically redshirted his freshman year and gave his jersey number to a teammate, who then played in additional games wearing Croskey-Merritt's number. This caused a clerical discrepancy in NCAA records, where carries recorded under that jersey number were incorrectly credited to Croskey-Merritt, leading the NCAA to conclude he had exhausted his eligibility. Despite this ruling, Croskey-Merritt stayed with the Arizona team, practicing and playing scout team all season without game time. This situation limited him to only one game in his senior year, where he rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown before being sidelined for the rest of the season. The NCAA was still investigating the eligibility status during this period, and if they ultimately decided he was ineligible, Arizona risked forfeiting victories in which he played. The issue originated from the complicated facts of his transfer history and game participation over several years, which included Alabama State, New Mexico, and Arizona. The NCAA's official stats showed Croskey-Merritt playing a full complement of games over multiple seasons, but the team's evidence suggested his freshman year was redshirted with limited actual play. The jersey number mix-up created confusion in the records, causing the ineligibility ruling.