What is the extra year of eligibility for college football?

The extra year of eligibility in college football typically comes from a "redshirt" season, giving players five years to play four seasons, but recent NCAA waivers and lawsuits have added more pathways, like an extra year for former junior college (JUCO) players or for limited play in a season (e.g., four games without losing a year), with potential future changes like "five for five" (five seasons of play in five years) being discussed.

Will NCAA allow 5 years of eligibility?

Yes, the NCAA has been actively discussing and considering rule changes for a potential five-year eligibility period for all athletes, but a decision has been postponed, with the Division II Executive Board recommending further review, meaning changes aren't expected until at least 2028, despite initial plans for a vote in January 2026. While the proposal would standardize playing five seasons within a longer time frame (like 10 semesters), the core idea of extending eligibility beyond the traditional four years is still being debated and reviewed, with no immediate changes for the 2026-27 year. 

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.
 

How can someone play 7 years of college football?

A college football player can play for 7 years primarily through a combination of redshirting (sitting out a year to preserve eligibility), medical hardship waivers (extra years granted for significant injuries), graduate transfers, and the COVID-19 pandemic waiver, which gave all players an extra year of eligibility; these factors stack up, allowing players to exceed the standard four years of play within a five-year window, sometimes even stretching to seven or more seasons. 

How many years did Trinidad Chambliss play college football?

Chambliss has already spent five seasons in college (four at Division II Ferris State and one at Ole Miss), though he played in games only the past three seasons.

What does an extra year of eligibility mean for college athletic departments?

Has anyone from a D3 school made it to the NFL?

Yes, many Division III (D3) football players have made it to the NFL, often signing as undrafted free agents, with players like Quinn Meinerz (Denver Broncos), Jake Kumerow (Buffalo Bills/Packers), and Dan Arnold (Jacksonville Jaguars/Panthers) being prominent recent examples, proving D3 players can succeed in the pros despite fewer opportunities to get drafted.
 

Did Travis Kelsey graduate from college?

Yes, Travis Kelce graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2022 with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies but received his diploma in a special ceremony in April 2024, years after his original commencement he missed while playing football. He attended UC from 2008-2012, starting as a quarterback before becoming a tight end, and finally completed his degree requirements years later.
 

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. 

What is the maximum years you can play college football?

Within this five-year “eligibility clock,” the NCAA limits college athletes to competingin only four seasons of intercollegiate competition. In other words, student-athletes have traditionally been afforded up to five years of eligibility to complete four seasons of competition.

Why is it called redshirting?

It's called "redshirting" because of a 1937 University of Nebraska football player, Warren Alfson, who asked to practice but not play; since Nebraska's color was red, he wore a red shirt, and the name stuck for athletes who sit out a season to develop or extend eligibility. The practice involves delaying a player's varsity competition for a year while they still practice and attend classes, allowing them to mature or recover from injury before competing, thus getting an extra year of eligibility.
 

Who is the oldest player to play college football?

The oldest college football player ever is generally considered to be Alan Moore, who played kicker for Faulkner University (NAIA) at age 61 in 2011, scoring points in a game; while Joe Thomas Sr. holds the Division I record at 55 for South Carolina State in 2016, with other older players like Tom Thompson (61) and Mike Flynt (59) also making history in lower divisions.
 

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.

Why can't NCAA players wear 6 7 8 9?

College players couldn't wear jersey numbers with digits 6, 7, 8, or 9 because referees signaled fouls by displaying the digits on their hands, and digits above 5 were hard to show clearly, causing potential confusion with the scorer's table. This rule, which limited numbers to 0-5 (like 10, 15, 20, 25, etc.), was in place for decades but was finally changed by the NCAA in 2023, allowing players to wear numbers 0-99.
 

What is the 5 for 5 rule in college?

The proposed rule would allow players five seasons of competition within a five-year span, removing the traditional redshirt year where athletes practice but don't compete. Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said the latest information suggests implementation won't happen this year.

Can you play more than 4 years in college?

The NCAA's current rules allow athletes to compete for four seasons during a five-year timespan that begins when they enroll in college.

What is the NCAA 5 year eligibility lawsuit?

U.S. District Judge William L. Campbell wrote that the players did not make the case that they likely would succeed on their claim that the NCAA violates U.S. antitrust laws with its redshirt rule that restricts athletes to four seasons over five years.

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). 

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

Yes, there are 20-year-olds in the NFL, especially right after the draft, with players like running back Braelon Allen being 20 for part of the 2024 season and starting the 2025 season at 20, though many rookies quickly turn 21; there are no minimum age rules, but players generally must be three years out of high school, allowing some exceptionally young players to enter the league, like Amobi Okoye, who was 19 when drafted. 

Is there a 32 year old college football player?

Yes, there have been and likely are 32-year-old college football players, with Luke Larsen, an Australian punter for East Carolina University (ECU), making headlines as the oldest player in FBS football in early 2025, utilizing his final eligibility year as a graduate student. While uncommon, players like Larsen, who started football later in life after careers in other sports or military service (like Navy officer Tommy Smith at Vanderbilt in 2021), can play at older ages due to NCAA rules, redshirts, and medical hardships, making them significant stories in the sport.
 

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.

Can you play 7 years of college football?

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.

What is the oldest you can be in the NCAA?

So while the NCAA does not place an age limit on athletics, their rules of eligibility make it extremely difficult for anyone who is older to maintain their amateur eligible status.

Did Travis Kelce get a 4 year extension?

Travis Kelce signed a significant four-year, $57.25 million contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs in August 2020, making him the league's highest-paid tight end at the time, with guaranteed money and incentives that kept him with the team through the 2025 season. While that extension is now history, he signed another major two-year deal in April 2024, keeping him in Kansas City until 2027 and providing financial security as he considers his future.
 

Did Taylor Swift go to college?

No, Taylor Swift did not go to a traditional four-year college; she focused on her music career after starting high school, completing her education through homeschooling to accommodate her touring schedule, and she graduated high school early. She did receive an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from New York University (NYU) in 2022, where she also gave a commencement speech.