Once a student-athlete steps on campus their eligibility clock starts ticking. In Division I you get five years to play four. That allows for a redshirt year, something that often happens during the first year on campus as 17 and 18 year olds acclimate to college life.
The new NCAA rule that will allow freshman to play in four games while maintaining eligibility to redshirt will change the landscape of college football this fall. In the past any playing time would disqualify a student-athlete from securing a redshirt unless they were able to prove an injury was the reason they were unable to play the rest of the season.