The NCAA's decision earlier this month to cancel all championships for winter and spring sports in the 2019-20 academic year due to the COVID-19 outbreak has generated plenty of discussion over what the future holds for student-athletes that were robbed of competing for a national title. In the case of spring sports, the season was virtually a wash, with conference after conference making decisions to cancel athletic competitions through the end of the academic year.

One of the biggest talking points, in light of that, is whether or not the impacted athletes -- particularly spring sport athletes -- should be granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA in wake of the athletic calendar being disrupted due to the virus. According to the Associated Press, The NCAA Division I Council is scheduled to vote Monday on whether to allow another year of eligibility for spring sport athletes such as baseball, softball and lacrosse players, who had the bulk of their seasons wiped out by the coronavirus pandemic.

After the D-I council votes, the D-I Board of Directors, comprised primarily of university presidents and chancellors will have the chance to weigh in on the matter. According to the AP, however, the board of directors could kick the decision to the council for further consideration.

As far as winter sports are concerned, a restored year of eligibility for athletes in those sports is also set to be discussed, but support there is minimal at best, according to a memo recently sent to college sports administrators from the NCAA that was obtained by the AP. The argument against granting extra eligibility for athletes in winter sports such as basketball, hockey and wrestling is that those sports had either completed or were near completion of the regular seasons when the COVID-19 cancellations began to unfold.

'Winter sports had either concluded their regular season competition or substantially concluded their regular-season competition,” a portion of the memo said, per the AP.

For D-I spring sport athletes, the precedent is already there when it comes to hopes of retaining a year of eligibility. Division II has already approved legislation to provide an extra season of eligibility and financial aid for its spring sport athletes, according to the memo.

Though support for granting extra eligibility the impacted athletes has been widespread, it's not a feeling that is shared by everyone, including prominent administrators within the realm of NCAA athletics. Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, in a media teleconference earlier this week, said he could see "either side of it" while raising concerns of logistical issues that extra eligibility could create.

"I think anyone would have empathy for young people who worked hard and didn’t get an opportunity," Bowlsby said. There’s a case to be made for winter sports athletes too who couldn’t finish the entire season ... I worry with the uncertainty, we might find ourselves in disruption of fall or winter this next (academic) year. If we have another (COVID-19) disruption, are we offering fall sport athletes another year? It is very expensive as a result of continuing scholarships and NCAA bylaws need to be amended. "

Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill, meanwhile, took a more supportive tone when asked about the implications, according to the AP report.

“I think our conference is in a place where we’re certainly going to look to try to provide some relief in that position. Those students have been through a lot,” Gill said. “Trying to provide them an opportunity to be as whole as they can with regard to their competition opportunities is something that we are supportive of.”

What's certain though: The world -- NCAA athletics and beyond -- find itself in uncharted waters, leaving countless student-athletes in a spot where they can only wonder what could have been during the 2019-2020 season.

"It's an intellectually fascinating and challenging time," Bowlsby said. "It's also heartbreaking because we know how much energy and effort our athletes and coaches put into their respective sports."