Looks like the new proposed age based eligibility model will be voted on next month. There are guidelines for all student athletes based on where they current are in the college career/enrollment to provide a clear transition. They could've just capped the current system, having 5 yrs to play 4. Now with an extra year, that's just an extra yr of NIL and transfers.

• Student-athletes whose fourth season of collegiate eligibility was completed by spring 2026: No additional eligibility.

• Currently enrolled student-athletes with eligibility remaining after the 2025-26 academic year: Flexibility for schools to apply the age-based model or continue with the previous eligibility rules (four seasons to compete with five total years of eligibility), whichever is most beneficial to that individual.

• Prospects expected to graduate from high school in spring 2027: Age-based model only.

• Prospects expected to graduate from high school in spring 2026, regardless of planned enrollment date: Age-based model only.

• Prospects who graduated prior to spring 2026 and have not enrolled: The NCAA Eligibility Center will review the prospect's individual circumstances and apply the age-based model or existing delayed enrollment eligibility rules, whichever is most beneficial to that individual.

The NCAA's age-based regulations outline specific guidelines for student-athlete eligibility:

• The 5-Year Window: Under the age-based eligibility model, student-athletes get 5 years of competition to use within a 5-year window.
• When the Clock Starts: This 5-year clock begins in the academic year immediately following either your high school graduation or your 19th birthday, whichever comes first.
• Waiver Limits: The new rules mostly eliminate waivers for extended eligibility, except in specific hardship cases like pregnancy, official religious missions, or active-duty military service.
• Current Athletes: Those currently enrolled and competing have flexibility. Schools can apply either the age-based model or the previous eligibility rules (four seasons within a five-year window), depending on which is most beneficial to the individual student.

What is the argument FOR age limits at all?

Why do people want them?

Grown men beating glorified children at football has been widely celebrated in recent times. Everyone from Hendon Hooker to Zach Calzada was "SUCH A GREAT STORY" playing their 6th or 7th season in their mid 20s. But there's many examples beyond those.

People on Texags itself, seemingly, would really enjoy seeing a 28 year old Connor Weigman win the Heisman while collecting a salary from the Ambassador to Italy.

HowdyAgs03 said:

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The NCAA's age-based regulations outline specific guidelines for student-athlete eligibility:

• The 5-Year Window: Under the age-based eligibility model, student-athletes get 5 years of competition to use within a 5-year window.
• When the Clock Starts: This 5-year clock begins in the academic year immediately following either your high school graduation or your 19th birthday, whichever comes first.
• Waiver Limits: The new rules mostly eliminate waivers for extended eligibility, except in specific hardship cases like pregnancy, official religious missions, or active-duty military service.
• Current Athletes: Those currently enrolled and competing have flexibility. Schools can apply either the age-based model or the previous eligibility rules (four seasons within a five-year window), depending on which is most beneficial to the individual student.

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On waiver limits: I don't consider a religious mission a hardship. It's clearly a choice in life. BYU has been using that stunt for decades so their players can mature both mentally and physically. I would vote to eliminate religious choices as a reason to extend eligibility. I'm certainly not against doing missionary work, I just think it's something a person can choose to do at age 23, once their eligibility is up.

PascalsWager said:

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What is the argument FOR age limits at all?

Why do people want them?

Grown men beating glorified children at football has been widely celebrated in recent times. Everyone from Hendon Hooker to Zach Calzada was "SUCH A GREAT STORY" playing their 6th or 7th season in their mid 20s. But there's many examples beyond those.

People on Texags itself, seemingly, would really enjoy seeing a 28 year old Connor Weigman win the Heisman while collecting a salary from the Ambassador to Italy.

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Age applies to everyone equally so its less likely to be thrown out when you tell someone they cant earn money anymore playing in your professional league, thats the reason to use it.

Just like we saw men claim to be women and compete in women's sports and smash them, we will soon see retired NFL players join university again and suit up to play college football against poor freshmen kids and beat them to a pulp.

If that can happen, so can this.

IMO this is more about Foreign born basketball players and if prevents have to re-litigate the Pavia ruling every few years then it is a win

College sports should be for student athletes under the Age of 25 which is something that almost everybody can get behind and could possibly be winnable when it is inevitably challenged

let's go under the age of 24

23 years old max

infinity ag said:

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Just like we saw men claim to be women and compete in women's sports and smash them, we will soon see retired NFL players join university again and suit up to play college football against poor freshmen kids and beat them to a pulp.

If that can happen, so can this.

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Join university? Where are you from, merry old England?

Haven't read much about this yet, so under this new rule, the kids all get to play 5 seasons or is it 5 years to play 4?

And of course includes an exception for one university, BYU

I noticed that kind or ridiculous those young me could do their mission at age 24 and there would be no need for a waiver

This is an interesting idea.

Most five star recruits have been held back a year and are older than their graduating class. Schools pull in a lot of freshmen that are 19 or even 20 in their freshman years of college. A&M usually hides the ages of the recruits but if you really dig you can find them. Most of our incoming freshmen are already 19 or 20.

So move it forward 4-6 years and the kid who enters as a 20 year old freshman is now a 24, 25 or 26 year old redshirt, medical, 330 pound interior lineman who has been on high protein and creatine since he was 14 years old and working with a professional trainer for 12 years. Get a few of those on your team and all of a sudden Indiana is winning the championship.

Same thing happens with the QBs. Every year in college football there are a couple of 24-26 year old QBs who have been essentially a professional football player for 10 years already. They have had a physical trainer for ten years, have been working with a professional coach and QB guru for 12 years, etc.


Since no one seems to care anymore about eligibility or years in the system (systems), maybe straight age limits are the answer and quit trying to play 26 year old career students against 18 year old kids.


I know everyone here hates Deion Sanders but he hinted at this when he said it makes no sense to recruit high school kids anymore. Let the other schools do it and he can use his 85 scholarships on 24-25 year old grown ups who can beat the hell out of the 18 year old 5 star kids. This is EXACTLY what Indiana did last year. I think I read they were the oldest team in college football last year and I know the average age of the entire roster was 23 years old. 16 of their 22 starters were in at least the 4th year of their careers and they had one starter in his 6th year.

23-year-old max. BYU gets no exception. Military, no exception.

PascalsWager said:

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What is the argument FOR age limits at all?

Why do people want them?

Grown men beating glorified children at football has been widely celebrated in recent times. Everyone from Hendon Hooker to Zach Calzada was "SUCH A GREAT STORY" playing their 6th or 7th season in their mid 20s. But there's many examples beyond those.

People on Texags itself, seemingly, would really enjoy seeing a 28 year old Connor Weigman win the Heisman while collecting a salary from the Ambassador to Italy.

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Weigman would be the Ambassador to Germany not Italy......

One Eyed Reveille said:

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PascalsWager said:

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What is the argument FOR age limits at all?

Why do people want them?

Grown men beating glorified children at football has been widely celebrated in recent times. Everyone from Hendon Hooker to Zach Calzada was "SUCH A GREAT STORY" playing their 6th or 7th season in their mid 20s. But there's many examples beyond those.

People on Texags itself, seemingly, would really enjoy seeing a 28 year old Connor Weigman win the Heisman while collecting a salary from the Ambassador to Italy.

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Weigman would be the Ambassador to Germany not Italy......

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This is the man paying for ALL of UofH athletics

One Eyed Reveille said:

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PascalsWager said:

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What is the argument FOR age limits at all?

Why do people want them?

Grown men beating glorified children at football has been widely celebrated in recent times. Everyone from Hendon Hooker to Zach Calzada was "SUCH A GREAT STORY" playing their 6th or 7th season in their mid 20s. But there's many examples beyond those.

People on Texags itself, seemingly, would really enjoy seeing a 28 year old Connor Weigman win the Heisman while collecting a salary from the Ambassador to Italy.

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Weigman would be the Ambassador to Germany not Italy......

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Uncle Tilman-the ambassador to Italy, is the big bankroller for UH.

Combine this with transfer limitations (only 1, but minimum of 2 years in a program first) and we have something.

Cignetti took an entire JMU roster with him to Indiana
Obviously He has an eye for kids that will develop , is a good coach , and runs a very tight program.

Indiana will likely continue to be good and much better than they used to be but a program can't replicate that every 5 years unless they bring in a coach that brings an entire roster with him

Okie Lite & PSU are the next 2 programs to try this approach

I think 24 should be the maximum age because college athletics should be for student athletes under 25 years old.

Sorry Mark Dodge.

The zoo doesnt want you, your play on the field or your story on Gameday and Sportscenter.