Fourth-year quarterbacks back NCAA’s new 5-for-5 eligibility model

Utah quarterback Devon Dampier led a group of fourth-year quarterbacks who praised the NCAA’s new five-year, age-based eligibility model Wednesday during Big 12 media days, describing the approach as a more straightforward way to manage college careers in an era already reshaped by transfers, name, image and likeness deals and roster turnover.

The model, often referred to as a 5-for-5 structure, is designed to give athletes five years to play five seasons while tying eligibility to age-based limits. Supporters say the change would reduce confusion around redshirts, medical waivers and case-by-case exceptions that have long made eligibility questions difficult for players, coaches and fans to follow.

Dampier, who is entering a key season with Utah, was among those who said the change could make the system feel more balanced for players who develop on different timelines. Quarterbacks, in particular, often spend multiple seasons learning behind older starters before getting a full opportunity. Under the traditional structure, those developmental years can create complicated decisions about whether to preserve a season or enter the transfer portal in search of playing time.

Players see clarity in a changing system

The support from fourth-year quarterbacks reflected a broader concern among college athletes: eligibility rules have not always kept pace with the modern college sports calendar. Players now routinely change schools, participate in extended offseason programs and weigh financial opportunities through NIL arrangements. A cleaner five-year framework could give athletes and programs a firmer planning window.

Coaches also have an interest in clearer eligibility rules. A predictable model can help staffs build rosters, evaluate scholarship numbers and recruit high school and transfer prospects without waiting on waiver decisions. Still, the system will need to be implemented carefully, particularly for athletes already midway through their careers and for those whose medical circumstances do not fit neatly into a standard timeline.

The NCAA has faced years of criticism over inconsistent waiver outcomes and an eligibility structure that many considered too difficult to understand. The pandemic-era eligibility extension added another layer of complexity, allowing some athletes to remain in college sports longer than usual and creating roster imbalances across conferences.

At Big 12 media days, players focused less on administrative details and more on the practical impact. For quarterbacks who have spent several seasons preparing for a starting role, the chance to compete under a clearer rule set was viewed positively. Dampier’s comments stood out because they came from a player in the exact stage of his career most affected by the shift: experienced enough to understand the old system, but still positioned to benefit from a more defined one.

The new model is not expected to end every eligibility dispute. Questions remain about how the NCAA will handle injuries, late enrollments, international athletes and possible appeals. But the early reaction from Big 12 quarterbacks suggested that players are open to a system that trades some flexibility for consistency.

For the NCAA, the response offers a rare moment of agreement during a period of rapid change. As college football continues to adjust to expanded conferences, larger media deals and an active transfer market, a simpler eligibility clock could become one of the more significant structural shifts affecting roster management in the years ahead.