In August, the NCAA Division I Board of Governors approved recommendations made by the Division I Council to grant all fall sport student-athletes an extra year of eligibility and additional year to complete it through a blanket waiver. The move was made to help provide clarity on eligibility situations for college athletes whose fall seasons were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Because of that, Clemson defensive tackle Nyles Pinckney – a fifth-year senior who would be playing his final collegiate season under normal circumstances – instead has the option to return to Clemson for a sixth year if he so chooses.