NCAA 5-in-5 Eligibility Rule Explained & Why It's GREAT For College Sports!

The NCAA’s new age-based eligibility model is one of the biggest college athletics rule changes in years, and it could reshape how Penn State football, Penn State wrestling, and every major college program handles roster development. The new “5-in-5” model gives Division I athletes up to five years of eligibility and dramatically changes the old redshirt, medical waiver, and development-year structure. Zach Seyko and Jacob Goins break down what the rule means for college football, the 2027 recruiting class, redshirts, injured players, roster construction, Penn State wrestling, football depth charts, and the future of development at major programs. They also discuss Dusty May leaving Michigan for the Dallas Mavericks, what that says about the instability of college basketball, and why Big Ten programs could face major roster consequences when coaches leave. This matters now because college sports are changing fast. Penn State fans need to understand how this rule affects future recruiting classes, developmental players, roster depth, transfer portal strategy, and the way elite programs manage scholarship talent. Drop your thoughts in the comments: is the NCAA’s new 5-in-5 rule the right move, or does it create a new set of problems? Become an every-dayer! Subscribe to Locked On Nittany Lions on YouTube:    / @lockedonnittanylions   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everyday... Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LONittanyLions... Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege Follow the show on X! https://x.com/LockedOnNittany https://x.com/zach_seyko #lockedonnittanylions #pennstate #nittanylions #pennstatefootball #collegefootball #bigtenfootball #ncaafootball #lockedon #weare #football 0:00 Intro 1:30 Why college sports needed an age limit 2:44 BYU, religious missions, and special exceptions 3:45 Older freshmen and gaming the system 4:18 Are redshirts basically gone? 6:04 How current athletes are affected 6:45 Penn State wrestling and football development impact 8:00 Why talent could spread to smaller programs 8:48 Current athletes vs. 2027 recruits 10:01 Odoo ad read 11:15 Dusty May leaves Michigan for the NBA 12:42 Michigan roster chaos and transfer portal questions 14:00 Why Dusty May’s NBA move is risky 15:25 What Dusty May’s exit says about college athletics 16:36 Michigan hired a coach with no built-in loyalty 18:08 Final thoughts on the future of college sports