College football eligibility: Coaches vote to expand redshirt years to nine games

College football coaches at the annual AFCA convention in Irving, Texas, have unanimously voted to propose an expansion of redshirt eligibility from four games to nine games. This change would allow players to participate in up to nine games in a season without forfeiting a year of eligibility, an increase from the current rule established in 2018. The proposal aims to address the pressures brought on by the transfer portal and the NIL era, which encourage teams to utilize first-year players more extensively.

The term "redshirt" does not appear in NCAA rules, which currently operate under a "five years to play four seasons" guideline. This proposal will now progress to Division I committees for further consideration. If approved, the new rule could provide players with greater flexibility to stay with their teams longer without affecting their eligibility.

The discussion comes amid ongoing challenges to NCAA eligibility rules, such as the case of Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who is suing the NCAA for denying his sixth season of eligibility. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt