College athletics are out of control. Not many people were against athletes getting paid or the transfer portal, even if regulations are desperately needed. However, eligibility rules are a completely different conversation, and the NCAA is declaring open season on those as well.
Just last week, a new rule was announced, allowing players to participate in two years at the JUCO level and still have four years of eligibility remaining once they decide to transfer to a bigger program.
It’s a bit ridiculous, considering this is college athletics. Guys shouldn’t still be playing at Texas, Georgia, or any program for that matter when they are 26 or 27 years old, outside of some very rare circumstances, which Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian, who spent two years at the JUCO level himself, spoke to after the recent ruling.
“I totally disagree with the NCAA’s determination on this,” Sarkisian said. “We chose to go to junior college football, and that’s where we wanted to start and play our career. I don’t understand it at all. We’ll have guys 28- and 29-years-old playing college football. What’s the point, man? I don’t get it, I don’t understand it, I totally disagree with it.”
However, this might not be stopping with just JUCO athletes. According to Jon Rothstein, the NCAA is pondering a rule that will allow college athletes across all sports five years of eligibility.
“The NCAA is considering allowing five years of eligibility for players in all sports moving forward, an NCAA official told College Hoops Today on Friday,” Rothstein writes.Â
“There is no timetable on when a decision will be made, but the topic will continue to be discussed in the early part of 2025.”
College athletics has become the Wild West. Athletes earning money and transferring at will were talking points that were widely agreed upon. College athletics are a lucrative business, and they are nothing without the players.
However, this is still collegiate sports. 25, 26, and 27 year olds have no business taking up roster spots and preventing 18 and 19 years olds from playing. A rule like this will hurt young players more than it will help older athletes. There’s absolutely no reason for the NCAA to be considering something like this, which means it will probably pass. Because if there’s anything we know about the NCAA, all they care about is more cash in their pockets.
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Photographer: John Adams/Icon Sportswire
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