According to a tweet from Stadium’s Brett McMurphy, one-time transfer waivers for college athletics are off the table until the 2021-22 calendar/season.
This result comes at the end of clunky process from the NCAA, as the organization flails at its attempts to modernize.
One-time transfer waivers are dead until at least 2021-22 academic year, sources told @Stadium, as NCAA Division I Council approved a resolution to develop legislation regarding transfer eligibility for January 2021 that would not be effective until 2021-22 academic year
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 20, 2020
Back in early April, reports surfaced that the NCAA Division I Council would meet on April 24 to discuss the implementation of a one-time waiver exemption. The council wasn’t expected to vote on the measure that day; that vote was set for Wednesday, May 20.
At the time, the exemption was expected to pass and be in place for the 2020-21 season. Assuming that came to fruition, transfer athletes would be able to gain immediate eligibility for the following season. For instance: Alan Griffin, a rising junior with two years of eligibility who transferred from Illinois to Syracuse, would be able to suit up for the Orange in the 2020-21 season.
However, after the April 24 meeting, the Division I Council suggested moving an official vote back until Jan. 2021. One week later, the NCAA Board of Governors made the recommendation to not allow for a one-time transfer waiver.
Now, according to McMurphy’s reporting, the Division I Council “approved a resolution” to create legislation for Jan. 2021, which wouldn’t be in use until the 2021-22 year, at the earliest.
Griffin is far from alone, too. In just the realm of men’s college basketball, plenty of non-graduate transfers entered the NCAA portal and picked new programs. Some may have done that with the understanding that there was a good chance they’d redshirt the 2020-21 season. However, others hoped or assumed instant eligibility at their new destination.
A player like Griffin could find other ways to petition for immediate eligibility, but the appeals/waiver process lacks transparency. It’s unclear what qualifies for sufficient reasoning and eligibility. (For whatever it’s worth, there remains optimism that Griffin, specifically, will be able to access a waiver and play next season.)
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