During Monday night's NFC South showdown between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, Troy Aikman dropped a line that had fans everywhere nodding and chuckling. While calling the game, the Hall of Fame quarterback couldn't wrap his head around something that's becoming oddly common in today's college football: quarterbacks who spend nearly a decade on campus.
As Joe Buck noted, Saints starter Tyler Shough logged seven years in college—three at Oregon, three at Texas Tech, and a final stop at Louisville. Across the field, Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. wasn't far behind with six years, splitting time between Indiana and Washington. Aikman, a three-year starter at UCLA before heading to the NFL, was baffled.
“I don’t understand how you get 7 years in college,” Aikman said bluntly on air. The comment quickly went viral, and fans were more than happy to offer their own theories—some serious, some hilarious.
One fan broke it down: “Easy: redshirt, Covid year, and multiple medical redshirts. He only played in 41 games.” Another joked, “Lots of people go to college for 8 years. They’re called doctors.” Others referenced pop culture, with one writing, “Clearly never watched Van Wilder,” and another adding, “Me thinks Troy Aikman didn’t see Tommy Boy. Then again, he was a tad busy in the 1990s.”
But beyond the jokes, Aikman's question touches on a real shift in the sport. The extra eligibility from the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with redshirt rules and injury waivers, has created a generation of players who enter the NFL with more mileage—and more degrees—than ever before. It's a trend that's changing the college football landscape in ways fans are still adjusting to.
And it's not just about age. Players like Shough and Penix are proving that extra time in school might actually be a secret weapon. Penix is 2-0 as a starter this season with a 2-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio over his three NFL years. Shough, meanwhile, is turning heads as one of the league's most promising young passers, leading the NFL in completions and attempts while racking up over 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns.
Maybe the path to early NFL success is simply staying in school a little longer. Or maybe, as Aikman might say, it's just a sign of the times. Either way, the debate over how college football's new rules are shaping the sport isn't going away anytime soon.
