For the Syracuse Orange and its peers nationwide, there appears to be a never-ending sea of changes in college sports.
Whether that's good, or not so good, it's where we are. So buckle up.
CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein reported on Friday that the "NCAA is considering allowing five years of eligibility for players in all sports moving forward." Rothstein's article noted that there's no specific timetable on when a decision on this issue might get made, as the topic is discussed early in 2025.
The NCAA is considering allowing five years of eligibility for players in all sports moving forward, per an NCAA official.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 3, 2025
The topic will continue to be discussed in early 2025.
As Rothstein notes, the current 2024-25 season is the last year for college athletes who were granted an additional campaign of eligibility by the NCAA due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
At present, players have four years of eligibility, although athletes sometimes take redshirt years for medical or other reasons. Granting every player in all college sports a fifth year of eligibility would have huge implications for the 'Cuse and schools around the country.
College eligibility is a hot-button topic for some Syracuse Orange fans these days.
Rothstein's story comes as 'Cuse fans are eager to see what the future holds of Syracuse football record-setting senior quarterback Kyle McCord, as recent reports have indicated that he may be appealing a decision by the NCAA related to him possibly getting a waiver for another season of college eligibility.
Of course, even if the NCAA decides to let players in all sports have a fifth year of eligibility, such a decision would likely come later on this year, beyond when McCord has to determine what his future plans will entail.
Still, I'd like to see the NCAA ultimately agree to let players in all sports have a fifth season, particularly amid the evolution of name, image and likeness opportunities. I say this because college players who may not be in line for the professional ranks could then stay in college for another term, make more NIL money, and provide rosters with more experienced athletes.
One caveat here is the explosion of the transfer portal. Because athletes can transfer without having to sit out a season, should a fifth year of eligibility become available, that will likely lead to more players staying in college to earn NIL income, but that also could lead to athletes transferring even more than they do now.
That, in turn, could provide more challenges (and headaches) to coaches across various college sports as it pertains to roster construction from year to year.
Other big-time changes in college sports that have occurred in recent years, and continue to transpire, include conference realignment. As part of the NCAA and its major conferences agreeing to settle several pending antitrust legal cases at the federal level, schools will soon be able to directly pay players in future revenue-sharing.
With this landmark settlement, per ncsasports.org, there will be no scholarship caps, and the NCAA is expected to introduce new, larger roster limits for a multitude of college sports, beginning with the 2025-26 season.