The NCAA is considering allowing five years of eligibility for players in all sports moving forward, per an NCAA official.

[BleedGopher]

Go Gophers!!

 

[goldengophers]

I assume redshirts go away?

 

[Unregistered User]

Allow NFL players to go back to college if they have eligibility left. College athletes are already “pro” players these days.

 

[beavergopher]

Allow NFL players to go back to college if they have eligibility left. College athletes are already “pro” players these days.

No kidding

 

[upnorthkid]

So many nuances to this that the tweet obviously can’t get to. 5 years at any collegiate level? 5 years starting after hs graduation? 5 playing years or just 5 years total?

I’m sure they’re going to cite some academic bs, they get their degrees more, but it certainly seems more like let’s improve the skill level of our product by keeping more of them here longer.

Would rather they just get it over with and make them employees with contracts, buyouts, etc given they’re clearly performing play for pay at this point

 

[MNfootballfan]

I have said this for a few years. One way to make college football sports better is to do this:

- 5 years of eligibility
- No redshirts (Medical Redshirts still allowed)
- You can transfer at any semester break and gain immediate eligibility but you have to make a decision of it costing you 1 year of eligibility or you have to sit out one year.
- Free transfer if you graduate
- Free transfer if you transfer up or down a level

Obviously would have to iron out some details but this would be the skeleton of the transfer.

 

[Pompous Elitist]

Now that money has entered in how are they going to limit to 5 years? Restraint of trade. Who will file the first lawsuit.

 

[Ski U Mah Gopher]

Now that money has entered in how are they going to limit to 5 years? Restraint of trade. Who will file the first lawsuit.

A union would be in the best interest of both sides.

 

[GopherTheJugular]

Wont this hurt the "little guys", which by that I mean the college athletes still playing for just a scholly and love of the game, like at St. Thomas. If the P4 teams can keep a few more players then they'll take less high school kids, so P4 kids will go G5, leading some G5 to drop down, etc. etc. etc. until a high school kid is out a scholly so that someone else can have one more year of paid P4 football?

I don't like it.

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

Unlimited eligibility can't be too far in the future.

 

[GopherJake]

The only possible thing they can do to save college sports is to reinstate the sit-out transfer rule. Probably never happen. But without it, college sports is a joke. So much for watching a kid/team develop. Bunch of money-hungry idiots ruining it all. Great job, guys.

 

[Ski U Mah Gopher]

The only possible thing they can do to save college sports is to reinstate the sit-out transfer rule. Probably never happen. But without it, college sports is a joke. So much for watching a kid/team develop. Bunch of money-hungry idiots ruining it all. Great job, guys.

Reason #1000 for a union, not only to protect the players, but also to protect the schools.

 

[upnorthkid]

Reason #1000 for a union, not only to protect the players, but also to protect the schools.

Agreed 100%. Can provide injury protection and a bunch of things like this which are appealing for the little guys/players while still allowing NIL deals for stars and protecting the schools with things like buyouts.

 

[Bigg Robb]

Unlimited eligibility can't be too far in the future.

With ever increasing NIL and eligibility, there will be a point where the NFL starts to compete for these players. Possibly, abandoning the 3 years of college role.. At what point do these big schools just completely break away and continue to go after a larger piece of that football pie and the multi-billion dollar NFL cartel. Clearly, it's all about the money at this point with amateurism and tradition being continually cast aside.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

my mental image of the NCAA headquarters right now is a bunch of people just running around blindly crashing into the furniture and each other.

Or something like the stateroom scene in "A Night at the Opera" - one of the Marx Brothers' classic comedies.

they have lost all control and are just flailing around hopelessly.

 

[denguegopher]

The only possible thing they can do to save college sports is to reinstate the sit-out transfer rule. Probably never happen. But without it, college sports is a joke. So much for watching a kid/team develop. Bunch of money-hungry idiots ruining it all. Great job, guys.

Yes, college football is not what it was, and never will be again.

 

[fmlizard]

I would link to all my past posts predicting that colleges (or courts) eventually do away with eligibility limits altogether, but I don't have the time.

Raising my odds from 25 to 35% that NCAA football eventually ends eligibility limits, establishing a nationwide paid pro football league with tons of built-in affinities and traditions, and in the process challenges the NFL.

At a minimum it becomes a formal minor league, which could bring the Gophers their 8th national championship when it's the farm team for the Vikings and not at a huge competitive disadvantage to 10-20 programs around the nation.

 

[Governor Sibley]

If lower division years don't count, does that mean we get Brosmer for four more years?

 

[GopherJake]

I would link to all my past posts predicting that colleges (or courts) eventually do away with eligibility limits altogether, but I don't have the time.

Raising my odds from 25 to 35% that NCAA football eventually ends eligibility limits, establishing a nationwide paid pro football league with tons of built-in affinities and traditions, and in the process challenges the NFL.

At a minimum it becomes a formal minor league, which could bring the Gophers their 8th national championship when it's the farm team for the Vikings and not at a huge competitive disadvantage to 10-20 programs around the nation.

Nailed it. If the gloves are off and schools are not restricted by a draft or anything else ($$$), you can bet Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama!!!, Notre Dame!!! could compete for top athletes. Just pay "Patrick Mahomes" enough and why would he move to the NFL, where they have you in solitary confinement for the first 4 years, then you are still in a box.

 

[balds]

Awful for other sports, especially basketball. The number of HS kids being recruited has dwindled. Look at most division 1, 2 and even NAIA and 3 rosters, and you'll see them filled with a lot of transfers. Good (not draftable) players at division 1 and almost all at the lower levels would for sure take that 5th year.

 

[Wally]

The only possible thing they can do to save college sports is to reinstate the sit-out transfer rule. Probably never happen. But without it, college sports is a joke. So much for watching a kid/team develop. Bunch of money-hungry idiots ruining it all. Great job, guys.

I think the portal has improved the Gophers prospects, that's good enough for me.

 

[FanSinceTheFifties]

Why are there any longevity or academic limits? Players today are employees of the schools. Let them stay as long as the school will have them.

 

[forever a gopher]

Allow NFL players to go back to college if they have eligibility left. College athletes are already “pro” players these days.

I'm willing to bet Maxx Williams could still ball at the college level. Come back and we'll add another "x" to your name in appreciation Maxxx! NIL dollars are waiting!

 

[Pompous Elitist]

A union would be in the best interest of both sides.

Reclassifying athletes as employees would be catastrophic for most colleges. Going to need a congressional hand waving carve out.

 

[GopherJake]

I think the portal has improved the Gophers prospects, that's good enough for me.

Only because we have a coach that can navigate the system better than most. But for sure. (And obviously talking about football, not basketball….)

 

[60's Guy]

Unlimited eligibility can't be too far in the future.

Think about it! We can all play again, not only play but get paid, too!
Here's the thing though...I don't wanna work out and get into game shape if it might not happen...so hopefully they give me a little warning.
Hopefully, they make it so you can play three sports too! Space out the schedules a little...start football end of July so it doesn't mess with my basketball and then jump into baseball. Dang, this is exciting! Just like the old days!

 

[Lou Brown]

It’s all a joke. Nothing makes sense. They make shit up as they go.

 

[Gopherchase]

I think the extra year for Covid and all this talk about extra years hurts the young kids more than anything. All these sixth and seventh year players sticking around are
just taking playing time from 19 and 20-year-olds who get the short end of the stick.

 

[50PoundHead]

Go to junior college and play for seven!

 

[50PoundHead]

Think about it! We can all play again, not only play but get paid, too!
Here's the thing though...I don't wanna work out and get into game shape if it might not happen...so hopefully they give me a little warning.
Hopefully, they make it so you can play three sports too! Space out the schedules a little...start football end of July so it doesn't mess with my basketball and then jump into baseball. Dang, this is exciting! Just like the old days!

Remember former NBA star World B. Free, whose nickname was "The Prince of Mid-Air." Well, with my negative vertical jump, I am "The Prince of Middle Earth." I'm guessing no one will be offering me the chance to use up my eligibility.

This is all getting way too crazy. NCAA could have gotten in front of this stuff when Kain Colter first sued them, but they idled away and we're at where we're at.