(BCSNN) -- The NCAA Division I Cabinet unanimously approved an age‑based, five‑year eligibility model on Tuesday, a sweeping change that would replace the long‑standing system allowing four seasons of competition over five years with no age restrictions.
The change will not be finalized until the Cabinet’s meeting concludes Wednesday, but the model is expected to take effect for all prospects who initially enroll full‑time in fall 2027 or later. For incoming 2026 recruits and current student‑athletes with remaining eligibility, schools will apply whichever model is most beneficial to each individual.
Student‑athletes who exhaust their eligibility during the 2025–26 academic year will not receive additional eligibility, though some are reportedly expected to pursue fifth years through legal action.
Under the new model, a student‑athlete’s eligibility clock will begin when they first enroll full‑time in college or at the start of the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever comes first.
The existing model has faced criticism in recent years due to widespread waiver requests and the rise of athletes competing into their mid‑20s, creating roster congestion. The age‑based system eliminates all waivers and redshirts, including hardship waivers.
Exceptions will remain for pregnancy, active‑duty military service and official religious missions, allowing student‑athletes to delay or pause their eligibility. These exceptions, administered by the NCAA Eligibility Center, apply only if the athlete does not participate in organized competition during the exempted period.
Current student‑athletes seeking season‑of‑competition waivers or eligibility‑clock extensions for circumstances occurring during or before the 2025–26 academic year must submit requests by July 31, according to the NCAA release.
“After that date, waivers of the previous rules will no longer be available,” the release said.
If approved Wednesday, the shift marks one of the most significant structural changes to NCAA eligibility in decades, reshaping roster management and standardizing the path to competition across Division I.
