Opinion: NCAA’s blanket waivers threaten the entire college football system

Senior college football players can receive up to three extra years on the field, which is unfair and puts younger athletes at a disadvantage for college play.

By: Alejandro Garcia, Sports Editor

Photo illustration by Angel Rangel

College football players are suing the National Collegiate Athletics Association over being excused from JUCO playing years unfairly leading to more playing time. If players take the JUCO route, they can play up to six years of college football in total, ruining the flow of the college football transfer process.  

Purdue football lineman Bakyne Coly makes headlines as one of the most recent in a string of college football stars to sue and challenge the NCAA. Other athletes alongside Coly are taking matters into their own hands as a way to extend their college playing time by suing and bringing up reports from the 2020 COVID year and redshirt years. 

The NCAA granted athletes a blanket waiver after the global pandemic interrupted competitions across the nation, allowing athletes an extra year of collegiate eligibility. However, recent court issues extend the matter further by adding redshirt years, which are years where players are sidelined for development or injury purposes, as well as junior college years, to be excluded. Courts can potentially agree on a case, resulting in many players having an extension of up to seven years as opposed to the initial four years of college play. 

Most of these players are milking the issues they claim impacted their play. They try to find the smallest loopholes that prevent their playing time, even if they only missed a few games. Around social media, people have been using the term "super seniors" to describe these players going above and beyond to stay longer despite the significant age difference. 

A prime example is Carson Beck, who recently played in the NCAA National Championship game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers back in January. Beck was in his sixth year with the Hurricanes prior to the matchup and hadn't been to any official classes due to graduating in 2024. Beck tried to improve his draft stock and gain more valuable sponsorship deals. 

Extended eligibility means more exposure to the competitive scene with more experience and senior status. This poses a threat to those looking to break into Division I rosters, especially as a transfer from a junior college and high school recruitment.

“Why would a school recruit an 18-year-old that's underdeveloped and small?" said Valley freshman quarterback Diego Venegas. “You could recruit a grown man who has four years of college football under his belt." 

NCAA players who would have previously been drafted after their initial four years instead block out potential incoming players.

With rosters staying full longer, the number of newer players receiving recognition and gaining scholarships is severely minimized. 

“I think if the years don’t count, there’s going to be a huge influx in JUCO players,” said Venegas. “You’re practically using it as a prep school to prepare yourself for the four-year level.”

The issue still impacts younger athletes by threatening their success in Division I football, affected by an influx of these super seniors. To many players wanting to play Division I and professional football, Junior College was the way to go. It was a second home for players coming out of state or wanting a cheaper alternative to four-years. 

Now, younger athletes entering JUCO have lower chances of making it to the professional level. There is going to be more competition among JUCO players, since more of them are competing to get noticed by a recruiter. High schoolers, meanwhile, will get passed over in favor of the JUCO players or the super seniors. 

With this new system, college football has been transformed from a sought-after route to professional football to an unnecessarily complicated transfer process for everyone involved.