Sometimes the NCAA gets it right. When it came to DeAnthony Arnett's waiver application, the folks in Indianapolis had an easy decision to make.

Fortunately, the NCAA made the correct call Thursday and approved Arnett's residence waiver, which allows the wide receiver to play for Michigan State this season. Arnett transferred to Michigan State from Tennessee after the 2011 season to be closer to his ailing father, who is awaiting a kidney transplant and is on dialysis. The waiver prevents him from sitting out a season. Arnett, a native of Saginaw, Mich., has three years of eligibility remaining.

The NCAA can be tough to predict on waiver requests. But after green-lighting Notre Dame receiver Amir Carlisle, whose case didn't seem nearly as urgent Arnett's, the NCAA had only one decision to make here.

The decision is big news for Michigan State, which loses its top three wide receivers and its top tight end, not to mention starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, from the 2011 team. Arnett, a decorated recruit who left Big Ten country to play at Tennessee, recorded 24 receptions for 242 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman in 2011. He practiced this spring with the Spartans and will join Keith Mumphery, Bennie Fowler, tight end Dion Sims and others as quarterback Andrew Maxwell's top targets in the passing game.

Although Michigan State will remain a run-first team this fall, Arnett's presence on the field gives the Spartans a talented target who has produced at a high level.