US President Donald Trump signs an executive order declaring an exclusive television broadcast window for the annual Army-Navy football game during a ceremony to present the Commander-in-Chief Trophy to the Navy Midshipmen football team of the United States Naval Academy in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2026. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty ImagesMonumental change in college sports is underway yet again. OnTuesday, the NCAA voted to approved a new five-year eligibility rule for student-athletes. The rule change would eliminate college athletes redshirt season.College sports governing bodys move to implement a move as historically significant as the new five-year eligibility clock originates from a confluence of conflicts emerging across contemporary landscapes, from college locker rooms to pandemics to the rarified air of Washingtons Beltway. It could be argued that universities athletics programs were destined to land at this decision. The redshirt rule, which historically provided college athletes a full season of practice-only competition, dates back to its earliest implementation at the University of Nebraska in 1937. In the ensuing decades, the redshirt rule became a mainstay across universities athletics program. But in 2018, an NCAA tweak to the rule allowed players to compete in up to four games while a redshirt. With the COVID-19 pandemics onset in March 2020 forced the cancellation of the remainder of the academic years sports calendars; later, the pandemic resulted in a shortened football season that following fall semester, all student-athletes were awarded an extra year of eligibility. The COVID-19 eligibility rule seemingly primed the systems decision to make the change announced this week. The straw that broke the camels back came through an April 7 executive order issued by President Donald Trump, who cited the eligibility proposal alongside the orders slew of proposed changes. WHAT THEYRE SAYING ABOUT THE LONGHORNS Austin American-Statesman: Inside the pro-softball giving young Texas players new dreams247Sports: ITYT Q&A: Texas RB depth, surprise players, latest decommitInside Texas: ITYT: What Kyron Brown brings to the Texas LonghornsICYMI IN BURNT ORANGE NATION Texas OF Maddox Monsour enters the NCAA transfer portalTexas INF Callum Early enters the NCAA transfer portalWhat does the Protect College Sports Act mean for the future of Texas football?Four-star DT Tyler Alexander commits to TexasThree-star WR Kyron Brown commits to Texas over Mississippi State, Kansas StateWhy three-star LB Cade Haug decommitted from TexasThree-star DT Jason Johnson sets commitment dateRECRUITING ROUNDUP Inside Texas: A Tuesday that had it all in the Texas Recruit-o-sphereInside Texas: What Texas is getting in 2027 wide receiver Commit Kyron BrownInside Texas: What Texas Is Getting in DL Tyler AlexanderInside Texas: New prediction for Texas, other buzz out of a huge recruiting weekendSEC SHOWDOWN Rock M Nation: 2027 Four-star offensive lineman Kyler Kuhn commits to MizzouAnd The Valley Shook: LSU leaves lasting impression on Five-Star EDGE Anthony Sweeney during official visitRocky Top Talk: Nate Ament taken by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 13th pick of the 2026 NBA DraftRoll Bama Roll: NBA Draft 2026: Labaron Philon goes 22nd to the Philadelphia 76ersWHAT WERE READING A Sea Of Blue: What the Spurs are getting from new NBA Draft pick Jayden QuaintanceSB Nation: World Cup 2026: Team conduct score explained, standingsSB Nation: NBA Draft instant grades for every 2026 first-round pickNEWS ACROSS LONGHORN NATION AND BEYOND Its baaack. Inspired by Bevo. Built for Texas. The 2026 game ball has arrived @UTexasEquipment x @BigGameUSApic.twitter.com/cYwVuVFpbS Texas Football (@TexasFootball) June 23, 2026