The NCAA is pushing ahead with a simplified “5-in-5” eligibility rule, but as the proposal gains traction, the concerns are starting to surface. Former Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III has entered the fray with a criticism.

The NCAA proposal is aimed at is simplifying the current system by removing redshirts, waivers, and other case-by-case exceptions and replaced within a fixed timeline.

Responding to the propasal, Robert Griffin III raised a concern regarding how this proposal could negatively impact the athletes attending strictly religious programs on April 28.

“If the NCAA moves eligibility to 5 years to play 5 seasons from when you graduate high school or turn 19 years old,” Griffin wrote on his X post.

“They have to make an exemption for religious-based schools like BYU and UTAH who routinely have student athletes go on 1–2 year mission trips before they ever play,” Griffin added, pointing to the need for religious exceptions.

Addressing the age-based eligibility clock, Griffin that pointed any athlete who might spend some of his time away for a mission trip, such as Brigham Young University players, could lose valuable playing years before even starting their college careers.

NCAA president Charlie Barker reportedly stated the new eligibility model would not be applicable to collegiate athletes who 'exhausted' in the 2025-26 season.

“If you’ve used up your eligibility, you’ve used it up. The goal here was to come up with something that was a lot simpler and sort of familiar,” Barker added.

The comissioner of the West Coast Conference, Stu Jackson, was 'supportive' of the idea of the '5-on-5' policy.

“This is probably the best option that we have at this point. Five in five years doesn’t absolve the NCAA from potential litigation, but it certainly gives us the best fighting chance to avoid it,” Jackson stated.

With the NCAA continuing its move toward reformation, the discussion is now turning towards the adaptive measures taken to implement it.

BYU and Utah At The Epicenter of the Debate

At college institutions like Brigham Young University and the University of Utah, the collegiate career timeline looks different for athletes.

Many players take time away for religious commitments that are part of the school’s structure and curriculum. However, under the proposed NCAA rule, those missionary trips would also count.

By the time the players return from their trips, they will assume full eligibility of their collegiate careers. This is considered a 'success' for NCAA, as Baker states nobody thought of the rule as a 'bad idea.'

"I have had a lot of people offer me thoughts about implementation, but I haven’t had anybody say to me that this is a bad idea," Baker stated. "It makes it harder for somebody to show up at the age of 19 or 20 or 21 and claim to be a freshman after playing three years of professional sports somewhere else."

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Written by

Debanjali Rakshit

Edited by

Rishab Nandi