IU Football Could Earn a Fifth Season Under NCAA's Five-Year Eligibility Plan

The NCAA is poised to approve a universal five-year eligibility model in Division I, with a June vote likely; if enacted, IU football players who did not redshirt could gain an extra season, and all incoming 2026 freshmen would be on the five-year plan. Waivers to extend eligibility would largely be eliminated, except for pregnancy, religious missions and active-duty military service, and the NCAA outlined implementation steps for how the new rules would roll out at schools.