Football players can now play in up to 4 games & still redshirt

[Blair Sanderson]

https://www.ncaa.org/about/resource...otball-offer-more-participation-opportunities

DI football to offer more participation opportunities
Starting this season, football players can play in up to four games without losing a season of competition

College athletes competing in Division I football can participate in up to four games in a season without using a season of competition, the Division I Council decided this week at its meeting in Indianapolis.

Division I student-athletes have five years to compete in up to four seasons of competition. The new exception allows football players to preserve a season of competition if, for example, injuries or other factors result in them competing in a small number of games.

Council chair Blake James, athletics director at Miami (Florida), said the rule change benefits student-athletes and coaches alike.

“This change promotes not only fairness for college athletes, but also their health and well-being. Redshirt football student-athletes are more likely to remain engaged with the team, and starters will be less likely to feel pressure to play through injuries,” James said. “Coaches will appreciate the additional flexibility and ability to give younger players an opportunity to participate in limited competition.”

The proposal was tabled in April over questions about timing, the number of games and potential application to other sports. To mitigate one concern, the Council adopted noncontroversial legislation to specify that midyear enrollees who participate in postseason football competition that occurs before or during the student-athlete’s first term at a school cannot use the exception.

Several representatives of different governance groups reiterated concerns that caused the proposal to be tabled in April. The Division I Student-Athlete Experience Committee will examine how a similar concept could be applied to other sports, including what number of games would be appropriate. In its review, the committee will consult with the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Both the Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision representatives on the Council adopted both rules. They are effective for the 2018-19 football season.

 

[Mr Deeds]

This could change a lot. You can play true freshmen in early n ok n conference games and see if they are ready for the full shirt to be pulled.

 

[BIG10MANIAC]

I wonder if we will see a system similar to Pre-season games in the NFL where Freshmen and underclassmen would play for the easy "cupcake" non-conference games in order to save the starters for the Conference schedule.. (Not that all non-con. games are "cupcakes" but some are)

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

This is HUGE. Petras gets snaps in mop up duty and as a development program we could REALLY REALLY benefit from this. Now there really is a motivation to throttle people before the 3rd Q.

 

[WorldSeriesChamps2015]

Can we get Drew Ott back in uniform then???

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

Oooooooooooo. Well played.

Can we get Drew Ott back in uniform then???

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

Check out @marcmorehouse’s Tweet:

Morehouse brings up the idea of Mends making it back for the last 4 games and getting a waiver.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

This is another good rule change, one that benefits players and helps level the playing field between haves and have-less programs. Keep 'em comin'.

 

[Hawkeye Marching Band]

Check out @marcmorehouse’s Tweet:

View embedded media

Morehouse brings up the idea of Mends making it back for the last 4 games and getting a waiver.

Mends already has used his redshirt, so would need a waiver for a sixth season. No way he gets that if he plays in four games.

 

[iahawkeyes17]

Mends already has used his redshirt, so would need a waiver for a sixth season. No way he gets that if he plays in four games.

You never know look at the ISU QB. Some how he got a 6th year.

 

[SoFla-Hawkeye]

When does a redshirt have to be declared? Do they have to be 4 consecutive games? Is there a distinction between regular season games and conference championship/play-off/bowl games?

 

[His Hawkness]

When does a redshirt have to be declared? Do they have to be 4 consecutive games? Is there a distinction between regular season games and conference championship/play-off/bowl games?

What I'm wondering too.

Be nice to sit a guy for most of the year and then you can have them play the last four games when they are more ready to contribute.

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

Check out @ChadLeistikow’s Tweet:

 

[Hawks...#1]

This seems like it would benefit the iowa and iowa state types, maybe not so much the Alabama's as they usually know what they have

 

[hawkfeever]

This is another good rule change, one that benefits players and helps level the playing field between haves and have-less programs. Keep 'em comin'.

Maybe. Now 'Bama can bring the backup 5 stars or 4 stars in to relieve their starting 5 stars.

 

[Herkmeister]

Can we get Drew Ott back in uniform then???

 

[JD720]

When does a redshirt have to be declared? Do they have to be 4 consecutive games? Is there a distinction between regular season games and conference championship/play-off/bowl games?

You don't really "declare" it. If you don't play at all and you haven't used your redshirt year yet, the year doesn't count against your eligibility. Going forward, it should be the same, but with the 4 game limit.

 

[IamHawkeye]

This is HUGE. Petras gets snaps in mop up duty and as a development program we could REALLY REALLY benefit from this. Now there really is a motivation to throttle people before the 3rd Q.

It says "injuries or other reasons" I don't think it means just decide not to play him . But we'll see.

 

[bumpstock]

Fantastic...should've happened years ago! This will be very useful when replacing injured players without burning the red shirt. Finally, the NCAA does something smart.

 

[HawkAlum2002]

Well now someone could tie Chuck Long's record of playing in five bowl games at Iowa.

 

[Letsgohawks411]

I wonder if we will see a system similar to Pre-season games in the NFL where Freshmen and underclassmen would play for the easy "cupcake" non-conference games in order to save the starters for the Conference schedule.. (Not that all non-con. games are "cupcakes" but some are)

Advantage=SEC. Since they play 4 non-conference games it’s like having an extra exhibition game to get younger players reps and see if they’re ready to go. The BIG shot itself in the ass with the stupid 9 conf game rule.

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

Doing our best to ruin college football today I see.

 

[Crazy Hawk]

This seems like it would benefit the iowa and iowa state types, maybe not so much the Alabama's as they usually know what they have

This is how I see the Alabama's of the world benefitting....they now get four games to use as tryouts for their reserves (young guys) on whether or not they bring them back the following year.

 

[ichawk24]

Schools like Alabama aren't redshirting guys nowadays anyways. The 5 star guys want to play right away.

 

[HawkAlum2002]

This will actually lead to even more transfers because guys that would normally have a year head start while guys redshirt will see even quicker that they are going to get beat out when the time comes. Instead of being a sophomore by the time you realize you are being passed, it could literally happen four games into your freshman season by someone that wasn't even planning on playing yet.

 

[dbrocket]

This is HUGE. Petras gets snaps in mop up duty and as a development program we could REALLY REALLY benefit from this. Now there really is a motivation to throttle people before the 3rd Q.

It would have been a bigger deal a couple years ago for Stanley. I don't think Petras is our 2nd best QB right now. He certainly wasn't in Spring.

But, it's definitely a big deal. I can think of several examples on the DL, RB, DB and TE where being able to play guys a little and keep the redshirt would have meant an extra year, or a depth chart that more accurately reflects the best guys (thereby allowing them to get #2 reps).