With player opt-outs becoming more and more commonplace throughout the college football bowl season, injuries sidelining many players, and some players already choosing to redshirt this season, some programs might be having a hard time fielding a full lineup in their bowl games this season. But the NCAA has a plan to solve that problem.
According to a report from college football analyst Cole Cubelic of ESPN, the NCAA has issued a waiver that will allow players to compete in a bowl game without it affecting their eligibility.
NCAA has issued a one-time blanket waiver, in FBS football, to exempt postseason participation from the limit of 4 contests a student-athlete may participate in w/o using a season of competition. The blanket waiver is applicable to FBS postseason gms that occur after Dec 15, 2022
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) December 16, 2022
“NCAA has issued a one-time blanket waiver, in FBS football, to exempt postseason participation from the limit of 4 contests a student-athlete may participate in w/o using a season of competition. The blanket waiver is applicable to FBS postseason gams that occur after Dec 15, 2022,” Cubelic said in a Tweet.
This would allow players who had already decided to take a redshirt this season but had already played reached the four-game limit can play in a bowl game without it affecting their future eligibility and burning their redshirts.
It’s a big change and the college football world had plenty to say about it on Twitter.
Interesting and productive update from the NCAA, could allow for more players to participate in bowl games. https://t.co/NPYsNPbLnO
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 16, 2022
“Interesting and productive update from the NCAA, could allow for more players to participate in bowl games,” RedditCFB said.
This could help the Buckeyes on special teams in the Peach Bowl. https://t.co/XZD7F91Lh6
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) December 16, 2022
“This could help the Buckeyes on special teams in the Peach Bowl,” Ohio State recruiting analyst Jeremy Birmingham said.
Smart move to try to head off teams claiming they don’t have enough players to play bowl games. https://t.co/ZArvYxgSjN
— Bud Elliott (@BudElliott3) December 16, 2022
Hey, common sense wins.
Utah perspective: Nate Johnson can play in the Rose Bowl without it counting as the fifth game. He will be a redshirt freshman in 2023. https://t.co/jPP3AWS2FE
— Josh Newman (@Joshua_Newman) December 16, 2022
“Hey, common sense wins,” Utah beat writer Josh Newman said.
It seems like an obvious and easy move that only helps the athletes, but the NCAA hasn’t always made the correct decisions in the past, so this is worth celebrating.
