Redshirt Rules for Fall 2025 Sports

We get a lot of questions about how a student-athlete can be classified as a redshirt to save a season of eligibility.   

In a recent newsletter, we shared info about the new NCAA Division II “redshirt” rule that applies to freshman in their first year of college at a D2 university.  If you haven’t read it, here’s a link to that article – on our website – https://informedathlete.com/new-ncaa-d2-eligibility-rule/

I thought it might be helpful if I share with you a review of the other redshirt rules that apply for Fall sports at the various college levels:

NCAA Division I sports other than Football and Wrestling

An athlete who enters a regular season contest (at the varsity or JV level) during the season in their Fall sport, even if only for one or two minutes or for one or two plays, will be using one of their four seasons of competitive eligibility. 

There is an exception for all Fall sports for participation in preseason scrimmages or exhibitions, BUT how such scrimmages or exhibitions are counted can vary from one sport to another.  

For that reason, it is best to communicate with the NCAA compliance director at your university to inquire whether appearing in an exhibition contest or preseason scrimmage for your team will count as using one of your four seasons of competition. 

NCAA Division I Football

Any athlete on a Division I football team can compete in up to four games without being charged with a season of competition.

NCAA Division I Wrestling

A freshman athlete on a Division I wrestling team can compete in up to five dates of competition (other than a season-ending championship event at the conference or national level) without being charged with a season of competition.

NCAA Division II Sports

An athlete other than a true freshman who enters a regular season contest (at the varsity or JV level) during the season in their Fall sport, even if only for one or two minutes or for one or two plays, will be using one of their four seasons of competitive eligibility. 

Freshman athletes at a D2 university may compete in up to 30 percent of the games or dates of competition in their sport without being charged with a season of competition.

There is also an exception for all Fall sports for participation in preseason scrimmages or exhibitions as described above in the section for all “Division I sports other than Football and Wrestling.”

NCAA Division III

To redshirt at the NCAA Division III level, an athlete must completely remove themselves from their team before the first game or contest of the season.

The D3 rules charge a “season of participation” if an athlete is practicing with their team once the season begins, even if the athlete never appears in a game for their team during the season.

NOTE:  This rule has “tripped up” athletes who transfer to Division III for what they expect to be their final season of eligibility after graduating from a non-D3 university. 

NJCAA and CCCAA

An athlete who enters a regular season contest (at the varsity or JV level) during the season in their Fall sport, even if only for one or two minutes or for one or two plays, will be using one of their seasons of competitive eligibility. 

NAIA

The NAIA charges an athlete with a season of competition if the athlete appears in more than 20 percent of the maximum number of games or dates of competition in their sport. 

However, any participation in NAIA-approved postseason competition will count as a season used (even if that is the athlete’s ONLY appearance in competition all season).

Do You Have Questions? 

If you are or have an athlete who has questions about redshirting or if they might qualify for a medical redshirt, we can help you navigate through the rules and requirements and provide you with options to consider in a confidential and private conversation.  To set up a time with Rick, you can schedule your confidential Eligibility Issues Consult online, send an email to rick@informedathlete.com or call us at 913-766-1235.