The times in college athletics, they are a-changing, and so is Nebraska Athletics’ nomenclature for players’ eligibility status.
On the Huskers’ official rosters, the term “redshirt” is being phased out, thanks to the NCAA’s new age-based five-in-five model.
Any Husker who has redshirted at some point is being given a new designation.
Sometime in the last several days, redshirt freshmen on the football roster became known as sophomores. Redshirt sophomores became juniors. And so on.
But nobody’s losing eligibility. It’s just a new way of classifying things.
What about players who are truly in their final season of eligibility? They now carry the label “Fifth Year” (or “Sixth Year” in less common cases like that of Owen Stoudmire). A dozen players on the Huskers’ football roster have these post-senior designations as they head into the 2026 season.
