Thanks To The New Redshirt Rule, College Football Just Got Better (Yep. Actually Looking At You, NCAA)

Either the NCAA is trolling us or some how, some way they have found some common sense today.

Reags already wrote about the fact that the transfer rules have been changed. Good for them. I’ve been highly in favor of this rule change. It helps even out the double-standard that exists with coaches and players.

But they didn’t stop there.

This is huge.

“Burning redshirt” standards going from zero plays to four games is bananas. Guys can now play a third of the regular season and still have that extra year of eligibility.

I honestly can’t believe the NCAA passed this.

Imagine being one of those coaches that just don’t know how some of your highly recruited guys are going to pan out. Welp, throw them in the fire for a game or two. If it works, play them in bigger games. If it doesn’t, get them experience in a couple of cupcake games and wait until next year.

Oh, remember that playing time you coaches promised (and probably didn’t really mean it) to those kids in order to get them to sign with you? Problem solved! Maybe they won’t threaten to transfer!

Or if your star QB gets hurt later in the season when the stakes may be high and there’s have a five-star freshman sitting on the bench? Play him. X4. He still can be redshirted.

It’s pretty incredible.

From a player development standpoint, this is a major win for every single program, big or small. Position battles are also going to be ramped up in a hurry. You just can’t recreate getting live action reps (even against the lowest of competition).

It’s also a win-win for guys coming back from injuries. You can wait until they’re 100%, throw them in the later in the season and can still have another year.

I can also make the argument that redshirt guys will have more reason to stay motivated during the year. Why? Because they can get actual playing time. There could be a legit payoff for not dicking around during your redshirt year now. You could play in front of this!

Those bowl games that don’t really matter unless you’re the two schools playing? Let your soon-to-be-drafted guys sit to protect their pro careers and bring in the underclassman to play in the who-gives-a-shit bowl (no offense) to reward them for working hard all season.

Oh, the possibilities. Maybe there will be more restrictions coming out later? But this really does change the game.

I still feel like there is going to be some sort of catch with both of these rules. The NCAA never does anything right, so call me skeptical. But for now…

Actually good.