In the last couple of seasons, the redshirt restrictions were adjusted. I think last year, a player could appear in four games and still be redshirted for the season. With the shortened season this year, is that number adjusted to a lower level? What impact do you think the redshirt rules will have on the season?

The NCAA has ruled this Fall season doesn't count, as far as eligibility, no matter how many games a team/person plays.

All Fall athletes automatically get another year of eligibility.

Does this apply to every player/team?

For example, if Ian Book plays 14 games as a fifth-year senior quarterback at Notre Dame, the potential max # of games for the Irish, it doesn't count against his eligibility?

I mean, I can see the reason for some situations. But in my example, I'm not sure I'm in agreement.

From what I've read,the NCAA is giving an extra year of eligibility to all Fall athletes,whether they play or not,and regardless of how many games they play.

You can read all the details on si.com

I know the NCAA did the same thing for Winter sports like wrestling.

Don't think it includes basketball.

Right, he could play again next year, but he'd have to maintain NCAA eligbility to do so. Most guys, especially ones who already are on their fifth year, probably will be ready to move on in life, but not always. Some might be able to work on grad degrees.

Will this be the rare NCAA rule that benefits the non-power conference teams like Ohio? I can see a trickle down effect where players from power conference teams seeing their playing time in jeopardy and enter the transfer portal for a chance at more playing time at a non-power conference team. Or is that just wishful thinking?

This will benefit teams who have a lot of redshirt seniors. I know there are a lot of downfalls of the 2020 virus but there are some positives:

1. Seniors get extra year for pros
2. Grads can work towards Masters.
3. Transfers get extra opportunity to showcase talent.
4. New high-ranking recruits like WW3 will be a beast by his senior year. Essentially he gets 6 games (maybe 7 or 8 depending on our record) for free that don't count towards his eligibility. So no redshirt for anybody this year really. I think everyone plays.
5. With conferences facing their peers, teams can't pad their wins playing lower-tiered conferences. So there's more on the line and one team can drop or rise significantly with a signature loss/win. Indiana is a prime example (who I predicted we will play in Quick Lane). Penn State and Michigan State has some ground to make as well with a loss to Rutgers. And PSU plays OSU this week so they could be 0-2 quickly. This will open up doors for higher G5 teams to play better bowl games this year. (IE- Cincinnati Bearcats as well as the top MAC and WAC teams).

If you were on a bowl committee that had to decide between a top MAC team or a middle of the road P5, would you take a 5-1 Ohio Bobcats team or a 3-3 Syracuse Orangemen team?

You must have missed the part where wins have been waved for bowl games.

And if you are on a Bowl committee you are looking at tickets and hotel rooms.

I sure did. Thanks for that. But the .500 requirement still exists. So hopefully we will see more 2-4, 3-4 or in the Big 10s case, 4-5 records. Not sure if they will play 9 games with Wisconsin's situation right now.

Actually NO they did not get rid of the .500 requirement!

Under ordinary circumstances, teams must have a .500 record to qualify for a bowl game (sometimes a 5-7 team will get a bowl bid if there aren’t enough .500 teams), but the Football Oversight Committee recommended getting rid of that rule for the current season, as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to linger and cause the postponement and cancellation of games.

https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa-waives-win-requirements-for...

Actually I can see the opposite happening. The 5th year senior who played at a Group of Five and there is a roster spot open on a Power Five and they want to elevate their draft status playing against stiffer competition.

Power Fives would be dumb to take a freshmen when they could take a seasoned vet for a one year rental if they're trying to win right now.