Athletics Veritas is a weekly series aimed at helping higher education executives, faculty, and other stakeholders stay tuned in on trending national issues impacting college athletics, especially NCAA Division I. Athletics Veritas is created by senior DI athletic administrators around the nation.
Term-in-Ology: Football’s Preseason Limit on Number of Players
Under Division I football playing season rules, there is limit of 110 football student-athletes who may engage in football practice activities prior to the institution's first day of classes or prior to the seventh day before the day of the institution's first contest, whichever occurs earlier.
The pandemic wreaked havoc on 2020-21 college sports, though, and that led the NCAA to issue blanket waivers including for seasons of competition that may have otherwise been used and eligibility clocks that would have expired.
With that backdrop, the NCAA approved in January a blanket waiver to permit Division I FBS and FCS institutions to exclude football student-athletes from the 110 preseason limit on the number of participants for the 2021-22 academic year, provided the student-athletes are returning to the same institution and would have exhausted eligibility during the 2020-21 academic year but for COVID-related season-of competition and extension of eligibility waivers. These student-athletes are colloquially called “super seniors.”
Athletics Veritas is presented for information purposes only and should not be considered advice or counsel on NCAA compliance matters. For guidance on NCAA rules and processes, always consult your university’s athletics compliance office, conference office, and/or the NCAA.
