NASHVILLE — Under a concept being studied by university leaders, athletes could play five full seasons of competition over a five-year period, while redshirts, waivers and other exceptions for additional seasons of eligibility would be eliminated.
In what would be a significant change in eligibility rules, the idea is only in the early stages of the association’s labyrinthine approval process and has not yet reached the stage of a draft. formal law. The discussion emerges in the weeks following a Tennessee court’s ruling. extending eligibility of Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia.
While the “5 out of 5” rule has long been discussed in NCAA circles, the idea has emerged as a potentially pressing issue to simplify and, perhaps, resolve a burgeoning new attack on another set of NCAA rules. the NCAA – this time, eligibility. . Any change in eligibility will likely follow the House’s pending approval of the antitrust rule in April and is one of several long-standing rules that the NCAA says could lead to a “full review” this summer under the of the post-athlete income settlement world. -sharing.
College leaders are exploring that possibility at the NCAA’s annual convention here in Nashville — a fitting site for such an event. Pavie participates in competitions at a school located a few kilometers away.
“I think the five-five model is one that’s being looked at that could simplify things, eliminate red tape and there would be a lot more opportunity for student-athletes,” said Baylor President Linda Livingstone, and Chair of the NCAA Board of Governors. told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday. “It’s a very interesting model to discuss. In theory, this seems like an interesting solution that would simplify things a lot. My understanding is that there are no redshirts or waivers. You can play five seasons but you only have five years.
Eligibility is the latest NCAA rule in the crosshairs of the courts.
A Tennessee court last month granted a preliminary injunction filed by Pavia that extends his eligibility for another year, agreeing with the Commodores QB that his junior college playing seasons should not count toward his four-year eligibility limit years at the NCAA. In response, the NCAA granted an additional year of eligibility to all these athletes in a situation similar to that of Pavie – those who played at least one year in college and whose NCAA eligibility was set to expire this academic year.
Current NCAA eligibility rules allow an athlete to play four full seasons over a five-year period and give them the option of playing part of a fifth season using a “red shirt.” Athletes who have already redshirted their season may also request additional years of eligibility for a variety of reasons, including season-ending injuries and other issues that may have prevented them from completing a full season.
In one version of the 5-by-5 model, waivers and redshirts are eliminated — a way to end subjective decisions that often lead to legal wrangling. Exceptions for religious missions and military service are the subject of debate, according to those involved in the discussions.
“One of the challenges we’ve had around the eligibility issue is that there are waivers,” Livingstone said. “Partly because of the legal environment, if you are denied a waiver, you have an incentive to challenge it. It has almost become difficult to refuse a waiver. The question then is: “Why do you even have a model that contains exemptions?” »
The NCAA is fighting at least two cases over eligibility rules: the Pavia case and one in Mississippi, where a Southern Miss basketball player is suing the association for an extra year of eligibility. Both cases could result in the NCAA’s eligibility rules being dismantled in the same way that courts have struck down the association’s ban on athlete compensation and its restrictive transfer policies.
However, the 5-on-5 idea may not solve all the problems, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said. The concept was first introduced in the early 1990s and was considered repeatedly for years, off and on, he said.
“It’s an interesting conversation, but there’s a lot to understand,” he told Yahoo Sports. “Why is this the good idea?” Can the NCAA really escape its waiver-granting behavior? Will schools stop asking for exemptions? How does this proposed change relate to the current legal environment: does it solve problems or create more concerns? How does a five-year eligibility model change access to college athletic opportunities for students coming out of high school? These and other questions will need to be answered in an ongoing conversation about the idea of five-year eligibility.
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, a member of the Board of Governors, the NCAA’s highest governing body, said the discussion on 5 on 5 should continue, but other pressing issues have taken priority, such as the rules of the House, the governance structure, etc. on.
“Is it good for student-athletes? Phillips asks. “Will our institutions have the discipline not to request exemptions or legal measures? What does this do to high school students and the downsizing they have felt throughout COVID? We should definitely discuss it as we look to the future, but I’m certainly not ready to approve at this time. »