NCAA panel approves new eligibility rules giving Division I athletes 5 years to play 5 seasons

By — Eric Olson, Associated Press Eric Olson, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/ncaa-panel-approves-new-eligibility-rules-giving-division-i-athletes-5-years-to-play-5-seasons Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter NCAA panel approves new eligibility rules giving Division I athletes 5 years to play 5 seasons Nation Jun 23, 2026 8:02 PM EDT Eager to lessen the chaos of the transfer portal era and court fights with players trying to extend their careers, the NCAA approved a new eligibility model for Division I athletes on Tuesday that will allow five seasons of competition over a five-year period that begins with their full-time enrollment or the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever occurs first. The Division I Cabinet unanimously approved the change from the longstanding tenet of college sports that gave athletes five years to complete four seasons of competition with their eligibility clock starting at the time of enrollment, regardless of age. WATCH: Player pay and transfer portal put college sports in new territory The move will all but eliminate waivers or redshirt years for extended eligibility except for religious missions, maternity leave or active-duty military service. No longer will extensions be considered for athletes who are injured. "While previous NCAA rules have served college sports well for a long time, we heard also loud and clear from NCAA members and student-athletes that eligibility rules should be easier to understand," NCAA President Charlie Baker said. The NCAA believes the age-based model will make rules easier to administer and help make roster management more predictable for coaches. "I think this new rule is one of the most sensible things the NCAA has ever done, and it will absolutely eliminate the type of eligibility litigation that's predominated lately," said attorney Tom Mars, who represented Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss in his successful quest for an additional year of eligibility in a case that went to the Mississippi Supreme Court. Mars added, "Let me put it in bottom-line language: There's no way somebody could file an eligibility case based on a medical waiver now with the new rule. Can't be done. You can file it, I guess, but it will be immediately dismissed." The rules, which will become official when the Cabinet adjourns its meetings on Wednesday, are set to take effect this fall. Division I includes more than 350 schools, some 200,000 athletes and, with football and basketball leading the way, is by far the most lucrative of the three in the NCAA. The five-in-five language also is included in Senate legislation intended to address numerous concerns across college sports and comes after a wave of lawsuits from athletes seeking to extend their college careers and ability to earn money through revenue sharing and name, image and likeness deals. Still to be seen is whether the new rul