Are we about to see another significant change implemented into the already chaotic world of college athletics?
It appears it could happen , as CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reported on Friday morning that the NCAA is considering the possibility of allowing all college athletes to have a fifth year of eligibility, rather than the four-year rule that has been in place for decades.
This isn’t the first time that we’ve heard of such an idea, as Ross Dellenger initially reported the idea early in the 2024 football season, but now it appears that the NCAA is looking at a discussion before long.
In his report, Rothstein says that there’s no timetable on when a decision will be made, but that continued discussions will happen in the “early part of 2025.”
It’s worth noting that the 2024-25 athletic year is the final year for “COVID seniors,” or the group of players that gained an additional year of eligibility after the COVID-19 pandemic.
With name, image, and likeness (NIL), the transfer portal, and the death of amateurism in collegiate sports, adding a fifth season to the mix almost feels like pouring more gas on the fire.
Then again, when was the last time the NCAA did anything that didn’t have significant repercussions?
