All winter athletes in NCAA Division I sports will be given an additional year of eligibility and all football programs will be allowed to compete in bowl games — regardless of their win-loss record — as part of one-time rules changes in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The NCAA’s Division I Council voted to approve both measures this week during their annual meetings. Council chair Grace Calhoun, who is the athletic director at Penn, said they wanted to provide as much opportunity and flexibility to athletes as possible amid the uncertainty that is hanging over this year of college sports.
In a normal year, college football teams need to hit .500 to qualify for a postseason game. Calhoun said the council decided to drop that requirement in 2020 to “continue the theme of providing maximum flexibility.”
NCAA rule-makers previously voted to allow all spring sport athletes and fall sports athletes to maintain a year of eligibility no matter what portion of their season had…
