The NCAA Division I Council voted Wednesday to grant a blanket waiver allowing all Division I transfers to play immediately this year.
The waiver covers all Division I sports, and the most immediate impact will be felt in men’s college basketball, in which a number of notable players will be able to suit up immediately — as soon as Wednesday night.
The NCAA was more lenient this cycle in granting waivers to traditional sit-out transfers in men’s basketball, but several waiver requests were denied or were still in limbo.
Some of the top players who are now eligible include Memphis’ DeAndre Williams, Butler’s Bo Hodges, Xavier’s Ben Stanley, Notre Dame’s Trey Wertz and Creighton’s Alex O’Connell. Miami and Pittsburgh face each other on Wednesday night, and both teams will get a boost from this news, as the Hurricanes’ Elijah Olaniyi and the Panthers’ Nike Sibande are now cleared to make their debuts.