Should players get a 5th year of eligibility?

[HooperScooper]

There's been some talk about the NCAA giving players 5 years of eligibility. Now Zakai Zeigler of Tennessee is suing the NCAA to get a 5th year of eligibility. With revenue sharing and NIL I can see why players who aren't NBA worthy would want this.

Tennessee star guard Zakai Zeigler filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the NCAA seeking a fifth year of eligibility -- a potentially groundbreaking case that could have wide-reaching effects across college athletics.

Zeigler, a four-year college player, claims in the suit that he is "arbitrarily barred" from competing in the final year of his five-year eligibility window while pursuing a graduate degree. His legal team argues that the redshirt system favors NCAA institutions over athletes in determining who qualifies for a fifth year of eligibility.

The case could impact not only Zeigler's eligibility but also set a precedent for future athletes. While there is no direct precedent, the case may gain traction due to momentum in similar antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA.

Tennessee's Zakai Zeigler sues NCAA: What to know about the case that could alter college eligibility rules

Lawyers and CBS Sports experts weigh in on a case that carries the potential for wide-ranging change to college sports

www.cbssports.com

 

[nomar]

5 years of eligibility, European pros playing college ball, what are we doing here?

 

[HooperScooper]

5 years of eligibility, European pros playing college ball, what are we doing here?

I saw this in the article. I'm not a lawyer but if this is the argument are they asking that student athletes can stay in school forever and play?

"We have filed a lawsuit on behalf of Tennessee basketball standout Zakai Zeigler to allow him to play college basketball in the 2025-26 season," Andy Cofer, an attorney with Garza Law Firm, wrote in a statement to CBS Sports on Wednesday. "The lawsuit alleges that the NCAA's rule permitting only four seasons of competition within the five-year eligibility window is an unlawful restraint of trade under federal and state antitrust laws."

 

[husky429]

I hate what is becoming of the game I love. Truly.

 

[navery12]

I'm indifferent, but just make a decision and apply it to everyone. I'm tired of one guy not having eligibility and another one getting eligibility because he used the soda machine in Boise, Idaho on his way to UCLA

 

[aceboon]

No, if you want to spend 5 years in college take a redshirt year but an auto 5 years to play, I'm not with it.

 

[ec33]

Once they opened the door with Diego Pavia this was only a matter of time. I wonder if 5 years is the stopping point. If you can get one year toward your masters, why punish folks in different masters programs?

Only a matter of time before players will be getting doctorates in basket weaving.

 

[Spaceman213J]

Just stick to the 4 years. Will a med student be able to play for 7 years.

Having professional athletes in college is enough. We don't need career collegiate athletes.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I’d vote for everyone gets 5 years, but no more injury or redshirt waivers. Maybe only award the 5th year to players that graduate as an incentive to take school seriously.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I’d vote for everyone gets 5 years, but no more injury or redshirt waivers. Maybe only award the 5th year to players that graduate as an incentive to take school seriously.

I’m the opposite yet maybe the same. 5th year ONLY for injury/redshirt.

 

[alphasigko]

NCAA screwed Cam out of year 5 when he had IMO a decent case for an extra year. I am in favor of leaving it at 4 years and a red shirt year if needed.

 

[DogMania]

I'm indifferent, but just make a decision and apply it to everyone. I'm tired of one guy not having eligibility and another one getting eligibility because he used the soda machine in Boise, Idaho on his way to UCLA

Yeah, the perceived inconsistencies with granting a 5th year of eligibility is frustrating. I'm not sure what to think about granting student athletes who we're fully eligible for 4 seasons. On the other hand there are some that got very little playing time during their first season or two, where why not let them have their 5th year? On the other hand, those players are taking up valuable playing and developmental time at the expense of players in their first to through 4th year of eligibility.

The one thing that I do like about it is it does give a chance for some 5th year players to further develop and improve their chances of making an NBA team while helping a college program. Granted there's the G League that can give some of these type of players an opportunity to get valuable developmental playing time, but the majority of them won't get that opportunity and either extend their career playing overseas or experience the end of their basketball road.

Not sure there's really a clear definitive answer to this. There are pros and cons to allowing a 5th year or not.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Why not 6 years? 7? 10? Who needs rules?!

 

[navery12]

Yeah, the perceived inconsistencies with granting a 5th year of eligibility is frustrating. I'm not sure what to think about granting student athletes who we're fully eligible for 4 seasons. On the other hand there are some that got very little playing time during their first season or two, where why not let them have their 5th year? On the other hand, those players are taking up valuable playing and developmental time at the expense of players in their first to through 4th year of eligibility.

The one thing that I do like about it is it does give a chance for some 5th year players to further develop and improve their chances of making an NBA team while helping a college program. Granted there's the G League that can give some of these type of players an opportunity to get valuable developmental playing time, but the majority of them won't get that opportunity and either extend their career playing overseas or experience the end of their basketball road.

Not sure there's really a clear definitive answer to this. There are pros and cons to allowing a 5th year or not.

I go back and forth on it, I'm not opposed to just giving everyone 5 years and taking away any redshirts/medical waivers which is what the current proposal is.

I'm also not opposed to keeping redshirts a thing but letting guys play the OOC schedule without losing their eligibility, so effectively 4.5 years. Take a guy like Isaiah Abraham who played against some cupcakes early and it was clear he could handle himself in those games but was not ready for Big East play. I don't think he should be punished for that and lose a year of eligibility. Let him count that year as a redshirt and he can play full seasons in years 2-5, whether it's at UConn or a lower level more suited to his talent

 

[auror]

I'm not a lawyer, but from what I've seen, it seems like he has a decent case.

The NCAA is not his employer. They run a monopolistic college basketball league where if you don't play in their league, you have little chance of getting paid NIL compensation as a basketball player in college. He will still be in college, but cannot play in the league because they've created an arbitrary 4 season eligibility cutoff, while granting exceptions to others on the 4 year cutoff all the time, allowing others 5 years of earning power but him only 4.

 

[champs99and04]

He will still be in college, but cannot play in the league because they've created an arbitrary 4 season eligibility cutoff, while granting exceptions to others on the 4 year cutoff all the time, allowing others 5 years of earning power but him only 4.

And here's the other thing: we're already beginning to see players take advantage of this by milking injuries to preserve that extra year and an extra year of earnings. I have to think the schools are going to be equally motivated to grant that extra year if it means closing that loophole. Boosters aren't going to keep writing checks for players if they think they're being conned.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

I'm not a lawyer, but from what I've seen, it seems like he has a decent case.

The NCAA is not his employer. They run a monopolistic college basketball league where if you don't play in their league, you have little chance of getting paid NIL compensation as a basketball player in college. He will still be in college, but cannot play in the league because they've created an arbitrary 4 season eligibility cutoff, while granting exceptions to others on the 4 year cutoff all the time, allowing others 5 years of earning power but him only 4.

Zeigler played a minimum of 30 games for 4 seasons. What is arbitrary about that? If he plays next year that’s just a joke showing there are no rules or enforcement.

 

[auror]

Zeigler played a minimum of 30 games for 4 seasons. What is arbitrary about that? If he plays next year that’s just a joke showing there are no rules or enforcement.

4 years is arbitrary when someone can be in college for longer than 4 years. It's a college basketball league. Why is someone not eligible as long as they are in college? Plenty of majors and programs are longer than 4 years.

 

[mauconnfan]

No!

 

[UConnTrumbull]

4 years is arbitrary when someone can be in college for longer than 4 years. It's a college basketball league. Why is someone not eligible as long as they are in college? Plenty of majors and programs are longer than 4 years.

Playing for 4 years is not arbitrary. If it takes longer to play those 4 years then fine. Ziegler has played 30 games per year for 4 years. That’s enough.

Otherwise what you’re saying is a guy can play nonstop from age 18-26 as long as they’re enrolled in college courses. Can make a career out of that. Silly!

 

[Viet Vet]

Here's a hypothetical, based on my own experience.

Prior to freshman varsity eligibility, I played on the frosh team at Penn. I wasn't quite good enough to progress beyond that to the varsity, but let's assume for the moment I had. I would have then played a total of three seasons at Penn prior to leaving near the end of my junior year for military service. Almost three years later, upon my discharge, I transferred to UConn, graduating after 2 and 1/2 years (encompassing the better part of 3 basketball seasons). Had I played all three seasons at UConn, that would have totaled six years, the final three at ages 24, 25 and 26.

Does that seem equitable?

 

[RJScootin]

This is no longer college basketball, Its pros who are on one year contracts. If giving players a 5th year benefits the pockets of NCAA it will most likely happen.

 

[TheShot1990]

No, and in fact, add a maximum cap on total dollars earned. Once you make say 10 million, adjusted for CPI, you are no longer eligible to play college ball. How can a kid who has already earned $20 million go to class with a straight face and pretend he’s learning from a professor making 150 K?

 

[navery12]

Playing for 4 years is not arbitrary. If it takes longer to play those 4 years then fine. Ziegler has played 30 games per year for 4 years. That’s enough.

Otherwise what you’re saying is a guy can play nonstop from age 18-26 as long as they’re enrolled in college courses. Can make a career out of that. Silly!

You're not understanding Ziegler's argument. The crux of his argument is that him playing 4 years and graduating is depriving him of the 5th year of graduate school and NIL money that comes with that.

If he had not worked as hard, taken less classes, and not graduated he'd still be able to enroll at Tennessee next year as a graduate student on scholarship. If him and Tennessee had decided had decided to hold him out and not play like other schools, he'd be able to do the same thing. That's the standpoint he's approaching it from as arbitrary

 

[ucp990411]

Seeing how college basketball has become a professional sport why not just allow them to sign multi year contracts that allow them to play as long as someone is willing to pay them. Who cares if they go to school.