How NCAA Eligibility Rules Changed

The NCAA’s new age-based eligibility model changes how Division I and Division II student-athletes calculate their college sports eligibility. Under these rules, student-athletes will have a five-year eligibility period in which to compete, rather than the prior Division I system that allowed four seasons of competition within a five-year clock beginning with initial full-time collegiate enrollment. Under the prior model, NCAA eligibility waivers could sometimes extend a student-athlete’s seasons of competition and/or five-year eligibility clock for reasons such as injuries, personal hardship or other extenuating circumstances.

The push for additional NCAA seasons of eligibility increased after the COVID-19 pandemic, when blanket waivers gave many student-athletes an extra season due to pandemic-impacted spring and fall 2020 competition. As a result, some college athletes competed across five, six or even seven years. That created roster pressure for incoming high school recruits and transfer student-athletes, while also leading to more NCAA waiver requests and eligibility lawsuits. Some early legal challenges produced broad relief, such as waiver relief connected to blanket waivers issued by the NCAA, allowing an additional year of eligibility to a whole class of students (e.g., junior college transfers related to the Pavia litigation). The NCAA’s legal strategy subsequently shifted, however, leaving athletes who want to challenge certain rules to pursue individual litigation. The new five-year, age-based eligibility model is part of the NCAA’s response to those challenges and to demand for clearer, more predictable NCAA eligibility rules.

What Is the NCAA Age-Based Eligibility Model?

Under the NCAA age-based eligibility model, a student-athlete’s five-year eligibility period begins when the first triggering event occurs: initial full-time enrollment at a four-year or two-year college, or the start of the regular academic year immediately following the student-athlete’s 19th birthday if the student-athlete turns 19 before September 1. This means the NCAA eligibility clock may begin before an athlete competes and, in some cases, before the athlete enrolls in college.

Like the prior Division I five-year clock, the new NCAA eligibility period runs continuously. A student-athlete may compete during each year of that period only if they remain academically eligible, athletically eligible and otherwise eligible under NCAA, conference and institutional rules. Importantly, the age-based model merely establishes a five-year window; it does not guarantee that every athlete will receive five full seasons of competition.

Who Does the New NCAA Eligibility Rule Apply To?

The new NCAA age-based eligibility model goes into effect for the 2026-27 academic year. Based on the NCAA’s implementation timeline student-athletes already enrolled at NCAA Division I and Division II schools before implementation of the rule may be evaluated under the prior NCAA eligibility rules or the new age-based model, depending on which system is more favorable. At this time, the model does not apply to students who exhausted their fourth season of competition in 2025-26 but still had time remaining on their five-year clock, although litigation remains pending for some athletes in that category.

Are There Exceptions to the NCAA Five-Year Eligibility Period?

The NCAA has identified limited exceptions to the new five-year eligibility model. Those exceptions are currently limited to time spent in active-duty military service and official religious missions. If the student-athlete competes in organized competition during those service periods, the exception will not apply.

There is also an exception for pregnant student-athletes. A pregnant student-athlete may be able to pause their NCAA eligibility period for the duration of the actual period in which the have stopped participating due to their pregnancy.

What about Waivers?

The NCAA has removed waivers from the Division I and Division II manuals under the age-based eligibility model. If a student-athlete is injured or encounters other extenuating circumstances, the athlete is likely unable to add those seasons to the back end of the five-year NCAA eligibility period. Similarly, if the NCAA Eligibility Center charges a student-athlete with delayed enrollment and loses seasons of competition, schools will not have the same waiver process available to seek restoration of those seasons. In practical terms, some athletes may have only three or four seasons of competition—or fewer—within the five-year eligibility window, with no recourse through the NCAA to recoup lost seasons.

What Student-Athletes and Families Should Watch Next

The NCAA eligibility landscape will continue to evolve as schools, conferences, student-athletes and courts interpret the new age-based eligibility model. Pending NCAA eligibility litigation, the elimination of many waiver options and questions about transfer rules may continue to create uncertainty for recruits, transfer student-athletes, international athletes, junior college transfers and current college athletes. If you need help understanding NCAA eligibility rules, evaluating an eligibility timeline or navigating eligibility questions generally, you can reach us at kcarlson@cchalaw.com or 317-773-210. We will continue to monitor NCAA legislation, Eligibility Center guidance and legal developments in this new era of college sports.