The landscape across college athletics could be on the precipice of another major shift.

According to a report from Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the NCAA Division 1 Council is expected to meet next week to review a proposal that would give college athletes five full years of eligibility starting from their 19th birthday or high school graduation, whichever comes first. There would be no redshirts or waivers, except for a small number of exceptions, including military service, religious missions, and maternity.

The reports also stated that the new rules could go into effect as early as the fall of this year.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has been one of the biggest supporters of this type of legislation, stating back in the fall that this type of rules change would help “clean up” the landscape, particularly now that the 105-man roster limits are in place across the FBS.

“I think it would be great for a lot of reasons,” Swinney said. “I think it would clean up a lot of the medical waivers, all that stuff. But I also think it would clean up an unintended consequence. When they put in the four games in for the redshirt deal – you could play four and still redshirt – that was a positive. Everybody loved that. But now with the world we’re in, especially with rosters being lessened, all of a sudden – it’s not their fault. It’s just the system, the way it is.

“Now, all of a sudden, you’ve got a bunch of kids that are going to self-redshirt themselves after four games if they’re not playing or where they are. You’ve got agents involved. There’s a lot of stuff.”

Under current NCAA rules, athletes are granted four playing seasons over a five-year calendar, with the option to regain a season of eligibility through a redshirt or waiver request.

The NCAA is currently in the midst of dealing with numerous lawsuits by players seeking extra years of eligibility, with different judges issuing different rulings across the country. Some players have been seeking seventh, eighth and even ninth years of eligibility, with some judges ruling in favor, while others rule against.

According to the report, last academic year, the NCAA received 1,450 waiver requests for extended eligibility. The association has granted two-thirds of those. Of those not granted (around 500), more than 70 have resulted in lawsuits.

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