College football is set to kick off in a matter of hours, yet eligibility questions continue to cloud rosters across the country. To put it bluntly - it’s ridiculous.

In an era where programs spend millions on roster construction and coaching staffs, winning right now is the expectation. The days of giving a coach five years to “figure it out” are long gone. You’re lucky to get three seasons before you’re shown the door. That pressure makes roster stability essential and the NCAA’s moving target on eligibility has made that nearly impossible.

It’s gotten so absurd that teams have looked to the NFL to bring players back simply because of the NCAA’s new 5‑in‑5 rule. The rule itself isn’t inherently bad, but the timing of its approval blindsided thousands of players. Many believed their eligibility had expired, signed professional contracts, and only later learned they technically had another year available. The fallout has been messy, confusing, and completely avoidable.

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko has been one of the most vocal advocates for establishing a true governing body one entity that can set uniform standards for eligibility, salary caps, and roster rules. And with lawsuits flying and breaking news hitting by the hour, Elko didn’t hold back when asked about the current state of college football.

You can view the clip below.

"We've got games tonight, games on Saturday, and we're not even sure about the rules of who's eligible to play!"@CoachMikeElko bewildered about the state of college football on the eve of the 2026 season: pic.twitter.com/8S3LzQYDxn

— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) August 27, 2026

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Mike Elko blasts NCAA chaos as eligibility issues cloud Week 1

Source: Yahoo Sports