A blanket waiver will exempt postseason video games from counting in direction of redshirt eligibility, the NCAA Division I Oversight Committee introduced Tuesday. The brand new rule, which fits into impact instantly for the 2024 seson nonetheless limits redshirting gamers to 4 video games however is not going to depend convention championship, bowl and Faculty Soccer Playoff contests towards that quantity. 

Among the many largest causes for the change are the switch home windows that have been carried out in the course of the 2023-24 cycle and opt-outs for the NFL Draft. Florida State, for instance, misplaced greater than two dozen gamers between opt-outs for the NFL Draft and switch portal in the course of the Orange Bowl after lacking the CFP final season. Below these new guidelines, Florida State redshirts may take part within the bowl sport with out penalty. 

With the brand new 12-team CFP going into impact this yr, groups have the potential to play in as much as 5 postseason contests. That may imply {that a} participant may take part in doubtlessly 9 video games throughout a 17-game season with out exhausting a yr of eligibility. 

Till 2018 faculty soccer gamers weren’t allowed to take part in any video games as a redshirt participant. Nevertheless, the Division I Council finally amended this rule to permit 4 appearances. Applications have been selective previously in relation to using these video games. For instance, Texas quarterback Arch Manning didn’t seem — whilst a backup — till Nov. 24, 2023, towards Texas Tech, when Texas reached some extent the place it may solely conceivably play 4 extra video games. 

The shift permits groups to be extra aggressive in how they use their redshirt gamers in the course of the season, particularly in nonconference play. If an harm occurs late within the yr, staffs can relaxation straightforward figuring out {that a} potential CFP run wouldn’t harm eligibility planning.