The NCAA’s new age-based eligibility rule is about to shake up college sports, especially football and basketball. Now, every Division I athlete gets five years to play five seasons.
That means coaches can finally ditch the complicated redshirt system. Roster management just got a whole lot simpler, but not without a ripple effect for players and the future of these sports.
So, who’s coming out ahead—and who’s left scrambling? Let’s take a look at what this rule change actually means.
The New Age-Based Eligibility Rule: A Game Changer
Medical redshirts and the old redshirt rules? Gone. The new approach is simple: five years, five seasons, no matter what happens with injuries or development.
For coaches, this removes a lot of headaches around roster math. No more loopholes for stretching eligibility, either.
Honestly, it should bring more fairness to the whole system, though I can’t help but wonder if it’ll have some unintended consequences down the road.
Benefits for Current Players
Current college football players who didn’t redshirt and aren’t likely to go pro early just got a huge break. They now have another year to develop and maybe boost their future earnings.
Take quarterbacks like Kansas State’s Avery Johnson or Utah’s Devon Dampier—they can stick around through 2027. That’s more time to get better, more time in the spotlight.
Challenges for Incoming Freshmen
But what about the new kids? For freshmen, especially in college hoops, it could get rough.
After COVID, true freshmen already saw less playing time because veterans hung around longer. The 2025-26 season looked a bit better, but with this rule, freshmen in 2026 and 2027 might struggle to break through.
Honestly, why would coaches take a chance on an unproven freshman when they can grab a fourth- or fifth-year transfer who’s already been through the wringer?
Eliminating Redshirt Gamesmanship
Remember when football players could play four games and still redshirt? That always seemed messy.
Players worried about burning a redshirt if they played a fifth game, which led to all sorts of mid-season drama. Now, every game counts as one of your five seasons—simple, direct, and frankly overdue.
Coaches can plan better, and the whole redshirt chess match is finally over.
Legal Challenges from the Class of 2022
There’s a group that kind of gets the short end here: the Class of 2022. They missed out on the pandemic-era eligibility extension and don’t get the new five-year rule either.
Some are fighting back, even taking legal action to make the rule retroactive. If they win, we might see a bunch of seniors from 2025-26 stick around for one more run.
Impact on the NFL Draft
This rule could shake up the 2027 NFL Draft. Fourth-year seniors who would’ve gone pro might just stay in college for a fifth season.
The result? The draft pool could get thinner, especially on days two and three. Guys like BYU’s LJ Martin or Miami’s Mark Fletcher Jr. might decide college is the better option for now.
Implications for College Basketball
Basketball’s going to feel it too. The 2027 NBA Draft already looks a little weak at the top, and now, even more players might stick around in college instead of turning pro.
That means fewer fresh faces in the draft and a bigger, more competitive transfer portal as players hunt for better opportunities or more cash.
A Stronger Transfer Portal
The drafts might lose some depth, but the transfer portal’s about to get wild. Players who would’ve been done now have another season to shop around.
Expect some pretty stacked “free agent” classes in both football and basketball. Teams will have more experienced, battle-tested players to chase—and honestly, that’s going to make things a lot more interesting.
The NCAA’s new age-based eligibility rule is about to shake up college sports. It’s going to open up more chances for current players to stick around, develop, and maybe even earn a bit more.
But let’s be honest—it won’t be smooth sailing for everyone. Incoming freshmen could find it tougher to break in, and the depth of future drafts might take a hit.
Coaches are going to have to rethink how they recruit. The transfer portal? That’s only going to get more important for building a solid team.
There’s a lot shifting in college athletics right now, and this rule is just another twist in the story. Who knows exactly how it’ll pan out for football and basketball?
For more detailed insights, you can check out the original article on CBS Sports.
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