How can someone play 7 years of college football?

A college football player can play for 7 years by combining standard eligibility (5 years for 4 seasons) with a redshirt season, the extra year granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and potentially an approved medical hardship waiver or transfer rules, allowing players to stay in school for graduate programs or get waivers for unique circumstances.

How can someone play college football for 7 years?

Because the NCAA gave a free season of eligibility to student-athletes affected by disruptions brought on by COVID-19, this led to many athletes competing in a seventh season during the 2021–22 academic year. One example is Summer Allen of Weber State, whose competitive college career spanned nine seasons.

How can someone be a 6th year player in college football?

It's not uncommon for players to receive a sixth year for a medical redshirt when they've already taken a season as a traditional redshirt.

How can someone play 9 years of college football?

In special cases, players can get an extra year of eligibility if they miss significant time due to injury. Looks like that's what happened for this guy: Miami tight end Cam McCormick was granted a ninth year of playing college football, he announced Thursday on social media.

Is the NCAA allowing 5 years of eligibility?

The NCAA currently allows athletes a five-year window to complete four seasons of competition, but there's no blanket rule for five seasons of play; however, the NCAA is discussing potential changes, with Division II supporting a proposal for five seasons in 10 semesters, while Division I maintains its current rules through the 2026-27 academic year, partly due to ongoing legal challenges and studies on roster impact. The COVID-19 pandemic provided temporary extra eligibility, and other exceptions exist for military service or injury (redshirts). 

What college player has 9 years of eligibility?

The college player granted a ninth year of eligibility is Miami Hurricanes tight end Cam McCormick, making him the first in major college football history after suffering multiple season-ending injuries at Oregon (2016-2023) and Miami (2023-2024), with his unique case approved due to extensive medical issues that prevented him from playing in several seasons, including 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. His waiver was approved by the ACC, allowing him to play his unprecedented ninth season in 2024, a testament to his perseverance and the NCAA's allowance for extraordinary circumstances.
 

What is the NCAA 10 7 rule?

The NCAA 10/7 Rule is a core-course progression requirement for NCAA Division I eligibility, meaning student-athletes must complete 10 of their 16 NCAA-approved core courses by the start of their seventh semester (senior year), with 7 of those 10 coming from English, Math, or Natural/Physical Science, ensuring they're academically prepared for college athletics before senior year begins.
 

How did Cam McCormick get 9 years of eligibility?

McCormick, who referenced 2024 as his "last ride" on social media, started his career at Oregon in 2016 but suffered season-ending injuries that caused him to miss parts or all of the 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons. His waiver for a ninth season of eligibility was approved by the ACC, according to ESPN.

How to get an extra year of eligibility?

Eligibility Extensions

In general, the NCAA will grant a student-athlete an extension of their eligibility if they can show they missed two seasons of competition for something that was beyond their control.

What does it mean to be redshirted?

"Redshirt" in college sports refers to a year a student-athlete sits out of competition (doesn't play in games) to develop skills, get stronger, or focus academically, while still preserving their eligibility to play for four years within a five-year window, essentially giving them an extra year to compete. This allows a player to redshirt as a freshman (becoming a "redshirt freshman") and start their athletic career a year later, fully prepared. 

Did Trinidad Chambliss get his waiver?

No, Trinidad Chambliss did not get his NCAA eligibility waiver initially, as the NCAA denied his request for a sixth year on January 9, 2026, stating insufficient medical evidence for his claimed 2022 hardship. In response, Chambliss's legal team, led by attorney Tom Mars, sued the NCAA on January 16, 2026, seeking a court injunction to play for Ole Miss in the upcoming season.
 

How to get a 6th year of eligibility?

A student-athlete may be granted a sixth year of eligibility if he/she is unable to participate in his/her sport for more than one season within the five-year period due to circumstances beyond the control of the student-athlete.

What NFL player has a 4.0 GPA?

Several NFL players have achieved a 4.0 GPA in college, including Joshua Dobbs (aerospace engineering at Tennessee), Carson Wentz (health education at North Dakota State), Colin Kaepernick (business management at Nevada), and former lineman John Urschel (MIT PhD program). Other notable players like Henry Ruggs III (Alabama) and Travis Hunter (Colorado) also achieved perfect GPAs while dominating in football, highlighting that high academic achievement is possible in the NFL.
 

Can a true freshman be drafted?

The NFL doesn't allow freshman or sophomores in college to declare for the NFL Draft.

Has there ever been a 20-year-old NFL player?

Yes, there are 20-year-olds in the NFL, though they are rare and usually recent draft picks from the latest class, like Running Back Dylan Sampson (Browns) and others from the 2025 Draft who were 20 at the start of the season before turning 21, demonstrating that young players enter the league, with top rookies often being 21 or 20 years old during their first season. While most players enter the league at 22 or 23, players can enter as soon as they meet NFL eligibility requirements, which means they are out of high school and have completed their college year, making young players common. 

How can college athletes play more than 4 years?

If an athlete suffers a season-ending injury or sickness before participating in more than 30% of team competitions and before the season's halfway mark, they can petitition for another year of eligiblity.

Will NCAA allow 5 years of eligibility?

Yes, the NCAA has been actively discussing and considering a "5-for-5" eligibility model (five seasons of competition in a five-year span) for all sports, with a potential shift away from the traditional four-season limit, but they've postponed a final decision for Division II until at least 2028, while maintaining current rules for Division I through the 2026-27 academic year due to ongoing legal challenges and internal studies. This proposed change aims to standardize rules, but faces debate over roster sizes, recruitment, and potential impacts on younger athletes, with some legal pressure pushing for broader changes. 

How many years did Trinidad Chambliss play college football?

Following four years at Ferris State, Chambliss announced in April 2025 that he was transferring to Ole Miss. During his senior season with the Rebels, he threw for 3,937 yards, 22 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in 15 games and was named SEC Newcomer of the Year.

How did Diego Pavia get another year of eligibility?

In December 2024, Pavia received an extra year of eligibility after winning a preliminary injunction from a U.S. District court judge in a lawsuit filed against the NCAA.

Can a player go back to college if not drafted in the NFL?

If said player is not selected in a Draft for which he is eligible, he is eligible to be signed as a free agent, unless he subsequently attends college and participates in college football. In such event, he shall become subject to the applicable sections of the “GENERAL RULES OF ELIGIBILITY.”

Who is the longest eligible college football player?

After suffering multiple season-ending injuries requiring surgeries and 1 extra year of COVID eligibility, McCormick was granted his ninth year of NCAA eligibility extending through the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season in 2022. He is thought to be the first football player to have been granted such eligibility.

Why does Cam Rising have so much eligibility?

Rising, who began his college career in 2018 at Texas, still has a year of eligibility remaining because of redshirt seasons, the COVID-19 waiver in 2020 and several injuries.

What is the lowest GPA a D1 college will accept?

To be able to enrol in a Division I university, you need at least a 2.3 GPA in the 16 key subjects. If your high school GPA is above this level, you can train, compete, and receive a sports scholarship from your first year.

What is the 40-60-80 rule?

The 40/60/80 Rule is an NCAA standard for Division I student-athlete academic eligibility, requiring them to complete specific percentages of their degree by set times: 40% of degree requirements by the start of their third year (end of sophomore year), 60% by the start of their fourth year (end of junior year), and 80% by the start of their fifth year (end of senior year) to remain eligible for competition. This rule ensures athletes make steady academic progress toward graduation, preventing last-minute rushes to finish coursework. 

How to check how many years of eligibility NCAA?

You can check your status by logging in to your account at eligibilitycenter.org. On your dashboard, your current academic (for NCAA Divisions I and II) and athletics eligibility status (for Divisions I, II and III) will be listed under the sport(s) you selected. How can I check my eligibility status?