Ivy League to allow graduate students to play during 2021-22 seasons due to COVID-19 pandemic

As Jeff Borzello wrote for ESPN, the Ivy League typically does not allow athletic redshirts or permit graduate students to participate in recognized athletic competitions. This has led to numerous graduated basketball players transferring to other schools to complete their collegiate eligibilities. 

However, the Ivy League announced in a statement shared by Borzello that it will allow senior student-athletes to play one last season as graduate students after the conference canceled both fall and winter sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Borzello noted this is a one-time change related to the health crisis and will be only for 2021-22 seasons. The Ivy League will revert to its typical rules past the 2021-22 calendar. 

The Ivy League declared: 

"Student-athletes who wish to take advantage of this waiver must be admitted to (and then enroll full-time) as degree-seeking graduate students through regular channels at their undergraduate institution. They must receive waiver approval from their institution's 5th year advisor and the waiver request must be processed and approved by the Ivy League office. Existing Ivy League financial-aid rules will continue to apply."

The Ivy League is the only Division I conference that canceled all winter sports because of the coronavirus pandemic.