NCAA proposes five-year eligibility window to stabilize Division I rosters
The NCAA Division I Board of Directors recommended that the Division I Cabinet pursue a new age-based rule giving student-athletes five years of eligibility, starting in the academic year after they turn 19 or graduate high school, with no grandfathering for current athletes. The 2025-26 cohort would still follow four seasons in five years, and the rule could take effect as early as 2026-27, potentially eliminating redshirts and waivers except in limited cases. The plan also preserves degree-completion funding for up to 10 years after eligibility expires. Final adoption awaits the Cabinet’s discussion in May. Some coaches, including Ohio State and Ole Miss, voiced support for the change.