The upper classmen are screwed by this. Its very difficult for any student who is a junior or senior to transfer to another school and be able to graduate on time. Many schools require complettion of 60 (?) units (smemster) in order to graduate. Thus if Junior plays at cal in the spring or transfer, say to USC, he probebely won't be able to graduate on time. Same deal with any senior that transfers for the spring.
Cal would have done everyone but yhr seniors a favor by making this decision in august when players could transfer to any school in the fall, not just those on the quarter system, of course Cal probebely wouldn't be able to field remotely competitive teams in these sports if they had treated the students right.