Image Source: Brent Schrotenboer
Key Takeaways:
- College football coaches have unanimously recommended increasing the redshirt game limit from four to nine games.
- The proposal aims to address roster caps and an expanded postseason in modern college football.
- The change is being proposed amid legal challenges to the NCAA’s current eligibility rules.
- A federal judge in Nashville has rejected a request by five football players to give them a fifth season of eligibility.
- The NCAA’s current eligibility rules are being challenged in court, with athletes arguing that the rules amount to an unreasonable restraint on trade.
Introduction to the Redshirt Rule Change
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) has unanimously recommended a significant change to the redshirt rule in college football. The proposal, which was announced at the AFCA’s annual convention in Charlotte, would allow players to participate in up to nine games before losing their chance to redshirt for one season. Currently, players are limited to playing in four games before losing their redshirt eligibility. According to AFCA executive director Craig Bohl, "College athletics is at an inflection point. The House settlement introduces roster caps and a multi-year period of grandfathering that will materially shrink active rosters and compress depth charts."
The Rationale Behind the Proposal
Bohl explained that the current redshirt rule was designed for a different era of college football, with larger rosters and fewer games. With the expansion of the College Football Playoff and the introduction of roster caps, the AFCA believes that the redshirt rule needs to be updated to reflect the modern game. As Bohl stated, "Codifying today’s realities into a modernized redshirt standard with nine games is both a student-athlete well-being issue and a competitive sustainability issue." The proposal is not intended to create loopholes, but rather to prioritize the health, development, and opportunity of student-athletes while preserving the fundamental purpose of the redshirt year.
The Potential Impact of the Rule Change
If the proposal is adopted, it could have significant implications for college football players. For example, a player who participates in nine games during their freshman year could still retain their redshirt eligibility and have four full seasons of eligibility remaining. As Bohl noted, "It is about aligning policy with today’s environment in a way that prioritizes health, development, and opportunity — while preserving the fundamental purpose of the redshirt year." This could provide more flexibility for players and allow them to develop their skills without sacrificing their eligibility.
The Legal Challenges to the NCAA’s Eligibility Rules
The proposal comes amid ongoing legal challenges to the NCAA’s eligibility rules. A federal judge in Nashville recently rejected a request by five football players to grant them a fifth season of eligibility, ruling that the plaintiffs had not shown a likelihood of success on the merits of their antitrust claim. The judge noted that "small changes in the eligibility rules have consequences that likely cannot be fully appreciated without further development of the record." The NCAA has argued that its rules are not an unreasonable restraint on trade, and the judge’s ruling suggests that the plaintiffs will need to provide a stronger basis for their challenge to the rules.
The Broader Implications of the Rule Change
The proposed rule change has significant implications for the future of college football. As Bohl stated, "The competitive calendar has expanded through College Football Playoff structures." The introduction of roster caps and the expansion of the postseason have created new challenges for college football programs, and the AFCA believes that the redshirt rule needs to be updated to reflect these changes. The proposal is not just about providing more flexibility for players, but also about ensuring the long-term sustainability of college football programs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the proposed rule change to the redshirt limit has the potential to significantly impact college football. The AFCA’s unanimous recommendation to increase the redshirt game limit from four to nine games reflects the changing landscape of college athletics. As the NCAA’s eligibility rules continue to face legal challenges, it is likely that we will see further changes to the rules in the coming years. As Bohl noted, "College athletics is at an inflection point," and the proposed rule change is an attempt to address the challenges and opportunities presented by this new era of college football.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/01/17/ncaa-redshirt-rule-change-nine-games-diego-pavia-college-football-eligibility/88222221007/
