Redshirt Rule Adds New Wrinkle to Transfer Portal, NIL Era

Before the transfer portal and NIL era dramatically transformed college athletics, the NCAA made a rule change that was universally praised by college football coaches. Now its unintended consequences are shaking up college football rosters.

In 2018 the NCAA changed the redshirt rule, allowing college football players to participate in four games and keep a year of eligibility. Eventually, that rule was amended to four regular season games, allowing everyone to play in the bowl game without burning a redshirt.

Coaches and players loved the 4-game redshirt rule. It’s hard to stay locked in for an entire season while you’re relegated to the practice squad without any chance of playing. It also gives players a chance to actually see how they stack up against the competition.

Cutter Boley got to experience that last Saturday in Gainesville. The former four-star quarterback is going to redshirt this fall but still got a chance to sling it on the road in the SEC, even if his only completed pass was a pick six.

“Those reps I got down there are invaluable. There’s few places that match the energy and the environment of The Swamp,” he said this week.

Redshirt Rule Leads to Opt-Outs

The redshirt rule isn’t applied exclusively to true freshmen who need a year to develop. Injured players are getting a chance for another season of football after missing significant time.

Former Kentucky Wildcat Keaten Wade suffered a foot injury in the preseason at Colorado. He made his debut last week against Arizona and recorded a sack on the first possession. After the game, he revealed the coaches will strategically play him in three more games to allow the true junior to use a redshirt in 2024.

A redshirt might also be in play for Chip Trayanum. The Ohio State running back transfer did not make his debut until the road trip to Florida in week eight. He’s considered doubtful on this week’s injury report, which means there is only a 25% chance he will suit up against Auburn. The redshirt is in play with five games to go.

Some players are using the redshirt rule just to find a better situation. Indiana wide receiver Donaven McCulley chose to redshirt and enter the transfer portal after falling down Curt Cignetti’s depth chart. The situation is even more bizarre for a Louisville wide receiver.

Caullin Lacy was expected to be the Cards’ top pass-catcher until he suffered a broken collarbone in the preseason. The slot caught 15 passes for 179 yards and had a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown for the 4-3 Cardinals before announcing he would redshirt. His agent cited the injury as the reason, not NIL, but instead of hitting the transfer portal, they’re negotiating an NIL deal for him to stick around Louisville for another season.

A statement from Caullin Lacy’s agent @bzsportsmgmt on the decision to redshirt: https://t.co/92pHLhiqio pic.twitter.com/bzHgWdo3Wz

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) October 24, 2024

There used to only be opt-outs for bowl games. Now we’re getting midseason opt-outs and coaches can’t be happy about it. There’s no imminent rule change on the horizon to curb this behavior, but I would not be surprised if the redshirt rule is tinkered with this offseason.