A federal judge has opened the door for one of Idaho State's best offensive linemen to get another year of eligibility, but it's just the first step in getting him on the field.

Federal Judge David Nye issued a temporary restraining order Thursday, clearing the way for Idaho State football player Alex Ramirez to play in the Bengals' season-opening game against Virginia Military Institute on Saturday.

But Ramirez, who was Idaho State's starting center last season, doesn't have enough practice time in and won't see the field Saturday, said Idaho State head football coach Cody Hawkins.

The temporary restraining order is good only until a hearing scheduled for Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. in federal court in Pocatello.

"Legally, (Ramirez) can play, but he hasn't been eligible long enough to get practices in," Hawkins said.

Ramirez had been declared ineligible for this season by the NCAA, the governing body of collegiate sports, because he played two seasons at Modesto Junior College before playing two more at Idaho State.

Under the eligibility rules in place when Ramirez transferred to Idaho State, college athletes had five years to play four seasons of competition. Ramirez sat out one season at Idaho State due to injury.

In recent years, several athletes have challenged the NCAA's interpretation that junior college competition counts against those five years. Courts have often ruled in athletes' favor, and in one instance, the NCAA granted a blanket extra year of eligibility to all athletes who had competed at the junior college level and were considered to have exhausted their eligibility.

In addition to ruling Ramirez legally eligible to play Saturday, Nye also temporarily barred the NCAA from taking action against Idaho State for playing Ramirez, even if he is ultimately unsuccessful in his request for a preliminary injunction that would allow him to continue playing while his case proceeds through the courts.

Nye found that Ramirez is likely to succeed in his case against the NCAA on grounds that it violated the Sherman Act, the federal antitrust law.

The judge also found Ramirez would suffer irreparable harm if he's unable to compete, since he would be unable to sign the $94,000 financial aid package Idaho State is offering him. The package includes $9,200 in stipends, $15,000 in base revenue share, $30,950 to cover master's degree tuition, and additional incentives that could total up to $37,000.

He would also lose substantial playing time without the restraining order, while there is "little risk of harm to the NCAA," the judge ruled.

Ramirez, 6-foot-1 and 285 pounds, started every game at center for a Bengal offensive line that was one of the best in the country in its division last season. ISU allowed only three sacks last year, and its running game averaged 5.5 yards per carry. During the offseason, Hawkins received calls from the University of Arizona, Oregon State University and San Jose State University — all FBS-level schools — asking whether Ramirez was interested in leaving Idaho State for a higher level of competition, Hawkins said in a court filing supporting Ramirez's request for a restraining order.

In his own filing, Ramirez said he chose to stay at Idaho State "due to the relationships I have built within the program, the coaches, my teammates, the development opportunities presented to me, the educational opportunities and the financial aid I have received."

The Modesto, California, native took part in spring football this year in anticipation of being granted an extra year of eligibility and was elected one of the team's captains. In his filing, he said he hopes to earn a master's degree in coaching, with a career goal of becoming a strength and conditioning coach.

Ryan Karby, a 6-foot, 275-pound junior from Saddleback Junior College in California, was listed as ISU's starting center for Saturday's game in the school's weekly press release. Karby has not yet competed at the Division I level.

Another Idaho State player, defensive lineman Viliami Tu'Akoi, also filed a motion in federal court seeking a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction against the NCAA to allow him to play Saturday. Nye issued a temporary restraining order allowing him to play as well, prior to a full hearing, but like Ramirez, he doesn't have enough practice time to play Saturday, Hawkins said.