What the newly proposed redshirt rule means for college football

FBS coaches have unanimously voted to adjust the redshirt rule in college football, proposing that players can participate in up to nine games while preserving a full year of eligibility. This proposal marks a significant shift from the current rule, which allows players to maintain their redshirt status if they play in four or fewer games. The adjustment aims to address the growing trend of players opting out midseason after limited participation to retain eligibility, often for strategic or financial reasons.

Examples of players leveraging the existing rule include Michigan wide receiver Donoven McCulley, who opted out after four games to preserve eligibility and later transferred, and Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, who left Colorado State after three games following a coaching change. This trend prompted coaches to seek a more expansive approach, with some advocating for five years of play within a five-year span. However, concerns about legal challenges, highlighted by cases such as Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, led to the nine-game compromise.

The proposed rule change now awaits