NCAA SHOCKER: Grants Football Player NINTH Year?! What Happens Next?!

Hold on to your hats, folks, because this is a College Football story you probably won't believe. Montana linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu is set to make history, granted an absolutely *unprecedented* ninth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Yes, you read that right. NINE years.

NCAA SHOCKER: Grants Football Player NINTH Year?! ...

The University of Montana made the announcement on Monday via social media, also mentioning that offensive lineman Dylan Jemtegaard would be returning for his *sixth* year. While six years is becoming more common with redshirting and COVID eligibility extensions, nine? That's something else entirely.

Tuliaupupu's journey has been anything but straightforward. He initially enrolled at USC way back in 2018, and that's where the injury bug bit him, and bit him hard. A foot injury in 2018, followed by a knee injury requiring surgery in 2020, kept him off the field for his entire undergraduate career. Talk about frustrating! You can only imagine the dedication it takes to keep pushing through all that.

It wasn't until 2022, as a redshirt senior at USC, that he finally saw significant game action, appearing in all 14 games. He even managed 10 tackles, including three for a loss. Just when things seemed to be turning around, another injury struck in 2023, wiping out his entire season. He played in seven games in 2024 before illness cut it short. You really have to admire the sheer tenacity to stick with it through that rollercoaster.

He then transferred to Montana in 2025 and will play his second season with the Grizzlies in 2026. It's going to be interesting to see how he performs after such a long and challenging road. Will the added experience translate to a dominant season? Or will the wear and tear of so many years finally catch up?

Adding another layer to the story, Tuliaupupu will be playing under a new head coach in Bobby Kennedy. Kennedy takes over from Bobby Hauck, who, in a surprising turn of events, has come out of a brief retirement to become the defensive coordinator at Illinois. So, a lot of change in the air for the Grizzlies this coming season.

This is one of those stories that just makes you shake your head and smile. It's a testament to Solomon Tuliaupupu's perseverance and the NCAA's willingness to make exceptions in truly unique circumstances. I, for one, will be watching to see what he does with this incredibly rare opportunity. Here's hoping he stays healthy and has a memorable final (we think!) season.