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With the 2025 college football season rapidly approaching, the South Carolina Gamecocks find themselves in an uneasy state of waiting. Running back Rahsul Faison, a key transfer expected to lead the backfield this year, remains in eligibility limbo. Despite submitting his waiver for an additional year months ago, Faison has yet to receive a ruling from the NCAA.
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Faison’s case is one of many caught in the confusion surrounding eligibility waivers—an area that has grown increasingly murky and controversial over the last few seasons. While some players, like Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, have successfully earned an extra year under unusual circumstances, others remain stalled by inconsistent decisions and a lack of clarity from the NCAA.
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“There’s law that can go either way,” said sports law attorney Mitt Winter. “I think it’s very judge-dependent right now. It’s a lot of luck of the draw.” That unpredictability has left programs like South Carolina scrambling for answers while their roster plans hang in the balance.
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Head coach Shane Beamer didn’t hold back when discussing the issue earlier in May. “It’s getting frustrating to be completely frank,” he said. “We’ve given them everything they’ve needed back in January… and again I know they have a lot on their plate, but the fact that we’re now in the middle of May and we still don’t have an answer is frankly disappointing.”
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Beamer’s frustration is understandable. The Gamecocks are counting on Faison to take over as the team’s starting running back after the departure of Raheim Sanders. Faison’s two-season stint at Utah State saw him rush for 1,845 yards on 316 attempts, averaging a robust 5.8 yards per carry—production that would be hard to replace this late in the offseason.
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Faison’s journey through college football has been anything but typical. Since beginning his career at Marshall in 2019, he has played—or in some years, not played—at several programs including Lackawanna College, Snow College, and most recently, Utah State. The inconsistencies in how those seasons are counted under NCAA rules form the core of his waiver request.
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The NCAA’s delay in ruling has become more than a bureaucratic hurdle—it’s an obstacle to South Carolina’s roster management and offensive identity. With Faison in limbo, the Gamecocks must develop contingency plans while trying to maintain cohesion and confidence heading into preseason camp.
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The uncertainty around Faison’s status also exposes the broader flaw in the NCAA’s waiver process. What should be a standardized and timely system often turns into a guessing game, with programs left to guess how precedents will be applied—if at all.
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Despite the setback, Beamer still believes in the depth of his team. But with major pieces of the defense gone—including leaders like TJ Sanders and Nick Emmanwori—he’s already voiced concern over replacing not just production, but leadership. Losing Faison on the offensive side would only heighten those concerns.
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Players like DQ Smith and Jalon Kilgore will be expected to step into larger leadership roles, but the offense needs a reliable anchor as well. Faison was expected to provide just that—a veteran back with production, maturity, and SEC-ready physicality.
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If the NCAA ultimately rules in Faison’s favor, it would be a huge boost for a Gamecocks team hoping to make a splash in 2025. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers is entering the season with high expectations, and Faison’s presence could help balance the offense and ease the pressure on the passing game.
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But until that ruling comes, South Carolina remains stuck in a frustrating holding pattern. With each day that passes without a decision, the Gamecocks’ plans become more precarious—and the NCAA’s credibility in handling player eligibility continues to erode.