To put it plainly, the NCAA’s new amendment to the redshirt rule, which will allow players to participate in up to four games without burning their redshirt, has the potential to impact the game, itself, as much as any move in the history of the sport.

The immediate takeaway for most was, “Oh, that’s cool. Now freshmen can get some game action against Liberty and UTEP in September and keep their redshirt.”

But that’s not even close to covering the story, here.

With freshmen—or anyone who hasn’t previously used their redshirt—permitted to compete in one-third of the season without losing a year of eligibility, there are a handful of made-for-Hollywood storylines that could launch a Butterfly Effect of never-before-seen proportions.

Case in point: Jalen Hurts.

Hurts is officially better off not playing.

The Channelviews, Texas-native started 28 games at Alabama during his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa, Ala., completing 62 percent of his throws for 4,861 yards, 40 touchdowns against just 10 picks, and led the Crimson Tide to consecutive National Championship appearances.

And, now, it seems, he will be benched in favor of Tua Tagovailoa.

At least, that’s the result he should hope for.

If Hurts were to beat out Tagovailoa in fall camp, the entire clinically insane Alabama fan base will be examining, re-examining and cross examining every move he makes. No one is more popular than the backup quarterback. If that back up quarterback is Tua?

Sheesh.

Alternatively, let’s say Tua wins the job. And, let’s say Tua plays well and keeps the job. And, let’s say, instead of using Hurts in mop-up duty, Nick Saban does him a solid and keeps him in the bullpen as injury insurance—keeping his total number of appearances at four or fewer.

Assuming Jalen can graduate in three years, he will, in fact, become “the biggest free agent in college football history,” just as his father predicted.

Hurts could use his redshirt this season and become a graduate transfer with two National Championship starts and two years of eligibility remaining—a guy who could go to a program like Houston—or, dare I say, FAU—and, conceivably, crash the College Football Playoff.

Who among us is not here for the Kiffin & Hurts World Revenge Tour?

As much as any position, the new redshirt legislation is going to change the game for quarterbacks—and for the way coaches, who have both added flexibility and added variables to bear in mind.

Next week, we’ll examine a very different scenario that could conceivably take place at Clemson involving an off-the-radar quarterback who’s not a quarterback but could be a quarterback and could also be an X-factor for the Tigers down the stretch.

Confused yet?

Stay tuned.