NCAA approves age-based, 5-year eligibility rule that effectively eliminates redshirting

The NCAA has voted to pass sweeping changes to eligibility rules. On Tuesday, the NCAA panel voted to pass the new age-based eligibility rule that will drastically alter players' current timeline. 

The panel voted to pass a new five-year eligibility, which gives players five years of eligibility within five years of a player's graduation from high school or their 19th birthday. The eligibility clock will start on whichever date comes first for that specific athlete. 

The new eligibility rules effectively eliminates redshirtting in college athletics. Whereas under the previous rules, players had five years to complete four years of eligibility. That allowed players to redshirt during one of those seasons. Under previous rules, players were prohibited from playing in any games during a redshirt season. But in 2018, players were allowed to play in up to four games without the season counting against their eligibility. 

During the 2020 COVID-19 season, players who participated during the COVID-affected seasons were granted a blanket waiver across all sports for one additional year of eligibility. While the intent was a good idea at the time, the blanket eligibility created a mess for the NCAA< particularly in court. As a result, we saw multiple players successfully win cases against the NCAA for additional years of eligibility. For example, Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss is participating in a sixth NCAA season after he sued over a medical redshirt. 

Former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia also received an additional season of eligibility after suing the NCAA over his JUCO seasons counting against his eligibility. CBS Sports additionally reports that with the NCAA's new rule, there will "not be further waivers for injury or other extenuating circumstances." While there will likely be new lawsuits that stem from the NCAA's new bylaws on eligibility just passed, it appears to be trying to draw a line in the sand for now. 

As for what this means for South Carolina, coaches across every sport will now re-evaluate how long certain players have left to play in Columbia. Gamecock football head coach Shane Beamer was asked about the rule proposal before it was passed, and said it will change things from a roster-building perspective both on the recruiting trail and with the transfer portal.  

“As far as preparing for it, see what happens,” Beamer said via Yahoo Sports in late April of the rule. “But you know that when you look at our depth chart more that we have in our staff room, you have guys that you, right now, think don’t have another year but do have another year. 

"There’ll be a lot of strategizing in regards to recruiting, portal needs, how many guys you’re planning on taking in recruiting at certain positions that you’re basing that off of right now. But you know these guys are gone. Now, if these guys maybe have another opportunity to come back, that’s a conversation I would certainly welcome, for sure.”

There will likely be other Gamecock coaches who speak on the new rule and what it means for their respective programs. 

ALSO READ: Shane Beamer gets recruiting win as South Carolina lands 6-foot-5 OL

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