{"id":379909,"date":"2026-07-20T18:55:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T18:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/379909\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T18:55:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T18:55:11","slug":"why-texas-footballs-steve-sarkisian-likes-ncaa-5-for-5-rule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/379909\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Texas football’s Steve Sarkisian likes NCAA ‘5-for-5’ rule"},"content":{"rendered":"

HOUSTON \u2014\u00a0Texas football<\/a> coach Steve Sarkisian said Sunday at the Texas High Schools Coaches Association convention that he and his staff made an effort to get older from a year ago. The Longhorns still aren’t as old as the UTSA Roadrunners, he said, who boast the oldest team in the country.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

He’s not alone in that goal; Sarkisian said programs across the country are trying to replicate Indiana’s success. The Hoosiers’ 2025 starting lineup boasted 17 players in their fourth year of eligibility or later. But building an experienced roster means retaining key, productive players, and that’s easier said than done.<\/p>\n

“This year we probably had the most players leave to go into the portal,” Sarkisian said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n

Whether it be for “greener” pastures or more playing time, 25 Longhorns entered the portal<\/a> this offseason. Texas recouped its losses by grabbing capable, talented veterans. Wide receiver\u00a0Cam Coleman<\/a> projects to be Texas quarterback Arch Manning’s No. 1 target. The running backs duo of Quintrevion Wisner and CJ Baxter departed; in have come\u00a0Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown<\/a> as the next men up.<\/p>\n

Most programs don’t have Texas-sized resources. They focus on retention, a process that’s become even more complicated since with decreased penalties for transferring and increased player compensation opportunities. That’s where the upcoming “five-for-five” rule can simplify things.<\/p>\n

\"Texas<\/p>\n

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian looks at the scoreboard in the fourth quarter of the Longhorns\u2019 game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 22, 2025.<\/p>\n

Sara Diggins\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n

What is the NCAA ‘five-for-five’ rule?<\/p>\n

The NCAA Division I cabinet approved a rule overhaul in June <\/a>that would allow college athletes up to five years of eligibility if they enroll before the academic year after they turn 19. This change goes into effect in 2027, effectively eliminating the\u00a0redshirt, and could prove beneficial to players and schools alike.<\/p>\n

Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n

The redshirt provides athletes with an extra season of eligibility if they play four games or fewer in a year. But in the NIL and revenue-sharing era, it’s an opportunity to maximize profit while they’re still in college.<\/p>\n

UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor said last week that he had six to eight players sit out after hitting the four-game mark because they wanted to get paid via the transfer portal. Texas State’s GJ Kinne mentioned his program being impacted in similar ways. The new ruling doesn’t prevent players from leaving, but it does ensure that potential transfers have little incentive to shorten their season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“That might be the last time they ever had a chance to grab that kind of money, and I’m happy for them,” Traylor said.<\/p>\n

\"Texas<\/p>\n

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) talks to receiver Cam Coleman (8) during practice on fan day at Darrell K Royal\u2013Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aril 18, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n

Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n

Players also stand to benefit from the ruling. Coaches have been hesitant to play freshmen on special teams at times, lest they burn a precious season on a unit they weren’t exactly recruited for. The new ruling gives the youngest players more opportunity to see the field right away.<\/p>\n

Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n

“Some freshmen, they’re probably the best gunner. They’re probably the best on kickoff,” Kinne said. “I don’t want to ruin the redshirt over that. Now, you don’t have to worry.”<\/p>\n

\"UT<\/p>\n

UT head coach Steve Sarkisian and UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor shake hands after the game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at the Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin. UT won 41-20 against UTSA.<\/p>\n

BRIANA SANCHEZ\/AMERICAN-STATESMAN<\/p>\n

What does it mean for Sarkisian, Texas football?<\/p>\n

Sarkisian said he’s been recruiting prospects who could have an immediate impact from the moment they set foot on campus. But considering the five-year rule and the advantage of having an older roster, he said he might shift his outlook slightly. Finding underrated gems who could grow into a role by their junior season could be incredibly beneficial to teams.<\/p>\n

Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n

Overall, a fifth year simplifies things for colleges, keeping the focus on the sport and out of the courts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“We’re trying to project, from a developmental standpoint, what they can look like down the road,” Sarkisian said. “And I think that’s where that fifth year can have an impact.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"HOUSTON \u2014\u00a0Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian said Sunday at the Texas High Schools Coaches Association convention that he…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":256465,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[3230,50005,261,586,1771,9330,46466,3231,27,29,537,536,28,3774],"class_list":["post-379909","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-texas","tag-arch-manning","tag-cam-coleman","tag-college-football","tag-high-school-football","tag-ncaa","tag-ncaa-division-i","tag-ncaa-transfer-portal","tag-steve-sarkisian","tag-texas","tag-texas-headlines","tag-texas-longhorns","tag-texas-longhorns-football","tag-texas-news","tag-transfer-portal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379909","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=379909"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379909\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/256465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=379909"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=379909"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=379909"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}