Ohio State Buckeyes Adapt to NCAA's New Five-Year Eligibility Model

The Ohio State Buckeyes will see significant changes in their 2027 football roster due to the NCAA's new five-year eligibility model.

What happened?

The NCAA adopted a new age-based eligibility model, allowing players to compete for five years.

The Ohio State Buckeyes' 2026 roster remains unaffected, but the new rule will impact the 2027 roster.

Why it matters for Ohio State Buckeyes

Fourth-year seniors who hadn't taken a redshirt year now have an extra year of eligibility, including WR Brandon Inniss and LB Christian Alliegro.

These players can choose to play another year of college football in 2027 if they want to.

The new model eliminates redshirt years and hardship waivers for injuries.

What comes next?

The Ohio State Buckeyes will face the Ball State Cardinals on September 5, 2026.

The new eligibility model may affect the team's strategy and player decisions.

Players like WR Devin McCuin and DT James Smith now have two years of eligibility remaining.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have 90 scholarship players, and the new model will impact each of their eligibility.

The team's coaching staff will need to adjust their plans for the 2027 season.

The NCAA's new model will also affect the NFL draft, as players like WR Brandon Inniss and LB Christian Alliegro may choose to play another year of college football.

The Ohio State Buckeyes will need to consider the new eligibility model when making decisions about player recruitment and development.

The team's fans will be watching closely to see how the new model affects the team's performance in the 2027 season.

The Ohio State Buckeyes' next game is just around the corner, and the new eligibility model will be in full effect.