Six FBS players maintain college football rosters at age 27 or older

College football rosters for the 2026 season feature six players aged 27 or older, bucking the typical age range of 19 to 23. This group includes two athletes who are at least 30 years old, Arkansas wide receiver Monte Harrison and Indiana punter Billy Gowers. Harrison, who is 31, transitioned to football after a professional baseball career. Gowers, 30, leads a cohort of Australian punters that also includes 28-year-olds Daniel Hughes at Florida State, Bailey Ettridge at Oregon, and Wilson Berry at Kentucky, as well as 27-year-old Tennessee punter Jackson Ross. These players maintain eligibility through various pathways including redshirt years, graduate student status, and unconventional routes like professional sports transitions or international experience. Their presence highlights the evolution of roster composition across the 138 FBS programs as athletes navigate modern eligibility rules and diverse athletic backgrounds.

• 7:30 AMYahoo Sports — Meet the 6 oldest players in college football 2026, from Monte Harrison to Billy Gowers