Pope vs. Khalifa may not happen in the 2025-26 season.
Former BYU head coach Mark Pope, now leading the Kentucky Wildcats, and his former player Aly Khalifa, now with the Louisville Cardinals, may not get the chance to face off in the 2025–26 season.
After Pope left BYU to take over in Lexington, Khalifa entered the transfer portal and committed to the Cardinals. However, the NCAA has ruled him ineligible for a sixth year of play, casting doubt on whether the former Cougar will ever suit up against his old coach.
Khalifa missed the entire 2024–25 season while recovering from knee surgery and was hoping to use a medical redshirt to preserve his final year of eligibility. Unfortunately, the NCAA has denied his request to extend his eligibility clock from five years to six, which would have allowed him to play next season.
Since he had already redshirted during his freshman year at Charlotte in 2020–21 and didn’t qualify for a COVID-19 redshirt, the NCAA is treating his five-year window as closed.
Louisville released a statement following the NCAA’s decision:
“University of Louisville men’s basketball student-athlete Aly Khalifa’s request for an extension of his five-year clock that would allow him to utilize his fourth and final season of eligibility was denied by the NCAA. The University of Louisville is appealing that decision and believes that Aly has a strong case that warrants an additional year. After earning his bachelor’s degree, Aly continues to work towards a master’s degree at the University while preparing for the 2025-26 basketball season.”
Should the appeal succeed, it would set the stage for a dramatic Kentucky – Louisville clash, not just between bitter rivals but also between a coach and a player once united under the same program. For now, fans can only wait and hope that the NCAA grants Khalifa one last shot to take the floor and potentially go head-to-head with his former coach on one of college basketball’s biggest stages.
