Rutgers coach Greg Schiano likes the direction college football is headed under the NCAA’s new five-for-five eligibility rule, especially when it comes to getting younger players on the field without the old clock-watching that came with it.
Rutgers opened training camp this week, and Schiano was asked how the change affects the way coaches can use younger players. His answer was straightforward.
“I think it’s great,” Schiano said. “What you use to have to worry about was, if we have a game where we’re in the lead by a lot, we’ll get them in there maybe to get some playing time, but then are we using up possible opportunities?”
Under the previous setup, players could appear in up to four games without losing a year of eligibility. The new rule replaces that with a single five-year window that starts when a player enrolls in college the year after his 19th birthday.
That change wipes out redshirts and removes most of the waiver process that had become part of the college football landscape.
For Schiano, the practical benefit is simple: coaches can now be more aggressive about using younger players in live action, even in games that aren’t close, and not worry about burning a season.
“They only used to be able to have four performances in games before the fifth one counted for the year of eligibility,” Schiano said. “Now you don’t have to worry about that anymore. So, it allows you if a guy can help in one particular facet, it allows you to use him in 12 or more games, if it fits.”
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