The NCAA Division I Council has recommended the Division I Board of Directors to adopt new protections for student-athletes with seasons impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA announced on Wednesday (Aug. 12). The recommendations are expected to be finalized on Aug. 21.

"In this time of uncertainty, the Council members are working to create additional flexibility for college athletes whose seasons have been negatively impacted by the pandemic,” said Council chair M. Grace Calhoun, athletics director at Pennsylvania. “Every day things are changing in college sport, and we want to be as responsive as possible, with the best information, to help student-athletes and their families make important decisions for their future. The Council worked hard today and will seek membership input before we make final recommendations to the board next week.

Per the NCAA, the board of governors required each division last week "to adjust rules to support student-athletes whose seasons were impacted by COVID-19, similar to decisions that were made for spring sport student-athletes." The council also recommended the board "provide fall sport student-athletes who compete and then opt-out of future participation or have a season cut short due to COVID-19 an extension of their five-year period of eligibility and an additional season of competition if they participate in 50% or less of the maximum number of competitions allowed in each sport by Division I rules," per the release.

The NCAA, in the release, additionally announced that the recruiting dead period has been extended through Sept. 30, 2020. The dead period was enacted in March and had already been extended several previous times before the latest announcement. The dead period prohibits in-person recruiting and evaluations from taking place until it is lifted.

The NCAA's release comes on the heels of Power 5 conferences announcing differing plans for Fall 2020. The Big Ten and Pac-12 have opted to postpone until Spring 2021, while the Big 12, SEC and ACC are moving forward with fall competition as of now.

Guess we have the answer for if all our players will keep their eligibility if fall sports are canceled. I'd assume this means NCAA will allow programs to go over scholarship limits but can our (and other G5) program afford to add more scholarship athletes in addition to all the additional testing costs?

(08-13-2020 07:47 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Guess we have the answer for if all our players will keep their eligibility if fall sports are canceled. I'd assume this means NCAA will allow programs to go over scholarship limits but can our (and other G5) program afford to add more scholarship athletes in addition to all the additional testing costs?

NIU can't afford. Going to be tough decisions

(08-13-2020 07:47 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Guess we have the answer for if all our players will keep their eligibility if fall sports are canceled. I'd assume this means NCAA will allow programs to go over scholarship limits but can our (and other G5) program afford to add more scholarship athletes in addition to all the additional testing costs?

Can’t afford but I would expect them to clean house to stay at the 85

(08-13-2020 01:26 PM)Chicago_sportsfan Wrote:  

(08-13-2020 07:47 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Guess we have the answer for if all our players will keep their eligibility if fall sports are canceled. I'd assume this means NCAA will allow programs to go over scholarship limits but can our (and other G5) program afford to add more scholarship athletes in addition to all the additional testing costs?

Can’t afford but I would expect them to clean house to stay at the 85

A few kids transferring out today. That makes it easier. I guess....

(08-13-2020 01:26 PM)Chicago_sportsfan Wrote:  

(08-13-2020 07:47 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Guess we have the answer for if all our players will keep their eligibility if fall sports are canceled. I'd assume this means NCAA will allow programs to go over scholarship limits but can our (and other G5) program afford to add more scholarship athletes in addition to all the additional testing costs?

Can’t afford but I would expect them to clean house to stay at the 85

Clean house? The players that are leaving were starters. We lose anymore and whenever we do play I’m looking at NIU with a below .500 record for the season

(08-14-2020 07:15 AM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  

(08-13-2020 01:26 PM)Chicago_sportsfan Wrote:  

(08-13-2020 07:47 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Guess we have the answer for if all our players will keep their eligibility if fall sports are canceled. I'd assume this means NCAA will allow programs to go over scholarship limits but can our (and other G5) program afford to add more scholarship athletes in addition to all the additional testing costs?

Can’t afford but I would expect them to clean house to stay at the 85

Clean house? The players that are leaving were starters. We lose anymore and whenever we do play I’m looking at NIU with a below .500 record for the season

There wo t be a season this year. All the Freshmen will be here one whole year. Losing starters not as devastating