The NCAA may deserve an assist if Alabama makes it through the 2018 season without one of its quarterbacks transferring.

The NCAA's new redshirt rule that was passed Wednesday, which allows players to play in up to four games and still redshirt, adds an interesting wrinkle to the much-discussed Crimson Tide quarterback battle between Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa.

Here's why: If Hurts doesn't win the starting quarterback, he's likely going to transfer. That's obvious. And the rising junior would be more valuable to another school -- and in an overall better situation -- with two years of eligibility left at a new school as opposed to only one.

Before Wednesday, staying at Alabama and appearing in even one game this season would have cost Hurts a year of eligibility and left him with just one more year to play.

The expectation was Hurts would have to make a decision on whether to stay or transfer by mid-August.

Non-graduate transfers must spend a full academic year in residence at their new school before they can play or receive travel expenses, so Hurts would have needed to leave Alabama before classes start Aug. 22 and enroll at a new school for the fall semester.

The only other option that would have allowed Hurts, who is on pace to graduate in December, to maintain the year of eligibility and be immediately eligible to play next year at another school would have been staying at Alabama but not playing in any games this season and then leaving the team as a graduate transfer. But it was beyond unlikely, barring a significant injury, that Hurts wouldn't play in a single game this season.

It's different now, though.

With the new redshirt rule, Hurts can play in up to four games and still redshirt. That could eliminate the pressure of needing to make a decision before the season and allow Hurts to continue battling for the job once the season starts if he doesn't win it outright and then graduate from Alabama without sacrificing a year of eligibility.

This NCAA 4 Game rule should single-handedly end the Jalen Hurts is going to transfer from Bama discussion right?



Jalen can play and help Bama if needed up to 4 games, graduate and then transfer anywhere he wants if he doesn't land full time hosting gig. — Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) June 13, 2018

Conversely, if Hurts wins the starting job, Tagovailoa, a rising sophomore, can play in up to four games and still redshirt.

One of the tricky parts of this, though, would be if there's an injury at QB.

What happens, for example, if Tagovailoa ends up winning the starting job but gets hurt during the season and has to miss enough games that Hurts -- if he steps in -- would lose the redshirt? The typical fan will say, "Go in. That's a no-brainer." But it's not that simple. Losing that redshirt would be a big deal and would potentially put Hurts and/or Tagovailoa in a difficult situation.

Still, this new rule will likely do nothing but help Alabama.

Most importantly, it may help the Tide keep both of its top quarterbacks on the roster through at least the end of the season.

Matt Zenitz is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mzenitz.