NCAA Eyes Five-Year Eligibility with Age Cap and Stricter Redshirt Rules
The Division I NCAA Cabinet is weighing a proposal to grant student-athletes five full years of eligibility, starting from their 19th birthday or high school graduation, whichever comes first, with a hard age limit and strict redshirt/waiver restrictions limited to a small group of outliers (maternity leave, military service, religious missions). If approved, the rule could roll out as soon as fall 2026 in phases, and would seek to protect current players while addressing past waiver use and related political discussions around extending eligibility.
