The concept of regular redshirting compared to medical redshirting had created a litany of Chandler Morris cases within the post pandemic landscape.
5 years to play 4 versus 5 years to play 5; the NCAA is ending its fight on the latter.
They are partially conceding that Diego Pavia’s antitrust lawsuit had merit; however, they are adjusting as well to avoid other Chandler Morris cases and the flooding of older int pros.
In college basketball & elsewhere, former international professionals were allowed to enroll & compete. Many of these players never attended college in Europe or elsewhere, giving them the possibility to be in their early to mid 20s with 4 years of eligibility remaining. James Nnaji is an example of this; as was Timo on our basketball team.
This led to a situation where a select few of American born players who left early wanted to return to college. The NCAA had let European pros in, however, they were denying or trying to deny players who were drafted or played nba minutes. They lost the former battle and won the latter; conceding players who only played g league minutes, whether drafted or not, could play in the NCAA. There was a chance that down the line, at a higher court, the NCAA could lose since they had allowed so many European pros in already. Basically discriminating against young Americans.
The age limit, of 23 and under, solves so many problems at once for the NCAA and moreover youth sports with parents holding kids back to game the system. The extra year of eligibility to play then provides a cushion to players who are injured while eliminating redshirts of all kinds. Thereby, eliminating the possibility of courts determining the NCAA’s enforcement practices.