Every Ohio State Player’s Remaining Eligibility After NCAA Adopts Five-Year Eligibility Model

Key Points:

• The NCAA's new eligibility model grants all players who had not previously redshirted an additional year of eligibility, allowing fourth-year seniors to potentially play a fifth season in 2027, while those who already redshirted maintain their current eligibility status.
• Ohio State's current roster includes 13 fifth- or seventh-year seniors who will exhaust eligibility after 2026, with quarterback Justyn Martin possibly seeking a sixth year due to injury under the previous rules.
• Seventeen fourth-year seniors now have two years of eligibility, including seven who previously would have exhausted eligibility in 2026 but can now return in 2027, though some are likely to enter the NFL draft instead.
• Juniors and sophomores on the roster also benefit from extended eligibility, with some juniors now having three years remaining and sophomores four, providing Ohio State with more roster flexibility but uncertain NFL draft outcomes.
• Freshmen in the 2026 class begin with five years of eligibility under the new rules, allowing Ohio State to utilize them fully in games without redshirt concerns, enhancing development opportunities and strategic depth management.