The NCAA is reportedly discussing the idea of granting student-athletes across all sports a fifth year of eligibility in the near future, according to college basketball insider Jon Rothstein.
Current NCAA eligibility rules allow players five years to compete athletically over four seasons. This allows a student-athlete to redshirt a year while still retaining a year of eligibility. Back in Septemberit was reported that the governing body and its member schools planned to seriously consider giving student-athletes the opportunity to play a certain percentage of games in a fifth season without burning a redshirt year.
If the policy is changed for all sports, sport-specific committees will need to determine how many games a player in each sport can participate in before a year of eligibility is exhausted.
The NCAA began taking a closer look at its eligibility requirements in recent years as a result of NIL legislation and rules related to the transfer portal. With the governing body drowning in legal red tape and lawsuits from all types of parties, it’s likely that such discussions won’t happen anytime soon anyway.
In fact, a recent temporary injunction Allowing Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia to play another season of college football in 2025 could have major implications for junior college transfers across the country. The NCAA factored JUCO participation into student-athletes’ eligibility when advancing to the Division I level. However, a court sided with Pavia that the rules violated antitrust law.
The decision is not a class action and is specific to Pavia, but other student-athletes in his position could potentially follow suit.
MORE NEWS AND ANALYSIS FROM GONZAGA
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Continue to follow our Gonzaga coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and we follow Instagram And Twitter.