Since the NCAA adopted the new red skirt rule, allowing a player to play in just 4 games and retain another year of eligibility, Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans have developed a solid debate in every detail about how it will go in South Bend.
That will likely not matter this season if the NCAA Board of Directors agrees to take a decision made by the Board of Division I.
Sources: The NCAA Division I Board decided today that fall student-athlete athletes can participate in any number of leagues this year and it will not count as a season in consideration. This has yet to be approved by NCAA Board of Governors on Friday.
– Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 19, 2020
Yes … I think this would mean that cornerback Shaun Crawford could technically play a 7th year at Notre Dame (meaning he will need a Moose Krause like “Mr. Notre Dame” nickname if that happens).
I strongly doubt Crawford would stay around, but the rule (which has yet to be passed) causes some problems with the 85 man support count for Notre Dame and every school in the country. If the clock is essentially a year break – how does that affect the count for incoming freshmen in the 2021 class? Theoretically, if everyone returns by 2021, Notre Dame would currently be 18 over the limit.
Of course, that is hypothetically highly unlikely – as in 0% chance – but again … there could still be some sort of problem. Maybe the NCAA should increase the support count to 90 for the next 4 years to help lower this issue. The truth of the matter is that most of the freshmen would probably have redshirted anyway, and those who can leave after this year – probably will.
So maybe this is a lot about nothing?
Source tells @TheAthleticCFB that, if this continues, current seniors will be exempted from scholarship limits of 2021 (the same happened with spring athletes who were eligible for one year again).
– Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) August 19, 2020
My bad y’all. So in 2021 – in theory – Notre Dame could have 25 players over the scholarship limit if all seniors return. There are currently 25 players who are seniors as seniors of the 5th year (and of course Crawford as 6th year seniors).
I strongly doubt it would be anywhere near that number, but it does let Notre Dame pack more recruits for the 2021 class than it wants (instead of a 20 man class, for example, they could easily sign 25+). They could also pack more graduation transfers. It definitely offers more options for 2021.
