Temple defensive lineman Sekou Kromah's motion for a temporary injunction that would allow him to play the 2026 season will be decided on Friday, August 14, according to a notification posted by New Jersey's Essex County Superior Court this week.

Kromah is seeking a fifth year of eligibility, asking the court to apply the recent NCAA five-for-five rule change to him retroactively.  Alternatively, Kromah has asked the court to grant him an extra year based on a medical hardship waiver.

Earlier this week, attorneys for Kromah and the NCAA filed briefs with the court, which heard oral arguments on Thursday.  Kromah's attorney filed a new proposed order for injunctive relief on Friday morning.  Judge Cynthia D. Santomauro will render a decision in two weeks.

The Temple football team starts preseason camp next Wednesday, August 5, so Kromah will miss at least 10 days of practice if he wins his case and the Owls bring him back.

"We've been kind of with the mentality of let's stay away from all that until it actually happens," Coach K.C. Keeler said last week.

In this week's filing, Kromah's attorney revealed to the court that the NCAA has now rejected his request for a medical hardship waiver.  At the time he filed his complaint against the NCAA in early July, the waiver decision was still pending.

Kromah's attorney provided a copy of an email from Temple Associate Athletic Director Kristy Bannon to Kromah, which indicated: "I spoke with the case manager on your waiver and I have received a verbal denial from the NCAA.  Once I have the decision in writing, I will send it to you."

Kromah's attorney also submitted a copy of Kromah's waiver request, dated May 7, 2026, which Temple filed on his behalf.  Notably, the request form states: "The institution is not asserting misdiagnosis or mismanagement of the student-athlete's injury.  The institution pulled the student-athlete from play when he indicated that he could no longer continue."

Kromah's complaint indicated that he suffered a left shoulder injury in August 2024 that was misdiagnosed and led to a cascading series of injuries in 2025.  He played in seven games last season, totaling 14 tackles and three sacks.  Kromah wore a single-digit jersey for the Owls and received a 73.9 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 184th of 1,073 edge defensive linemen that PFF graded at the FBS level.

"If he becomes available we will definitely go have a conversation," Keeler said.