What the NCAA’s New Eligibility Rule Means for College Athletes

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The NCAA has adopted a model that gives Division I athletes a five-year window to use five seasons of competition and effectively eliminates redshirting. Athletes who completed a fourth season at the end of the 2025–26 academic year will not receive an additional year with the caveat that a U.S. District Court in Colorado just issued an injunction granting an extra year of eligibility to the high school class of 2022, though the NCAA will appeal that decision. Student-athletes with eligibility remaining should confirm which model their school applies and take steps early to protect their rights.

On June 23, 2026, the NCAA Division I Cabinet approved a landmark change to how college eligibility works. The new model starts a student-athlete's eligibility clock at the earlier of initial full-time college enrollment or the academic year following the athlete's 19th birthday. This reshapes the rules for football, basketball, and every other Division I sport.

The ruling has been referred to by some as the NCAA “5 for 5” rule, but this interpretation is not always accurate since the rule does not guarantee five years for all student-athletes, particularly those who delay enrollment.

At Global Sports Advocates, our sports law attorneys help student-athletes understand rule changes like this one and defend their ability to keep competing. Here, we explain what the new eligibility model means and what athletes should do now.

What Is the NCAA’s Eligibility Rule?

Under the new model, a Division I athlete has a single five-year window to use five years of athletic eligibility. That is a departure from the old system, which allowed four seasons of competition across a five-year period and relied heavily on redshirt years and eligibility extension waivers. The NCAA adopted the age-based model to simplify its complicated rulebook. In doing so, it has effectively eliminated redshirting.

When Does the Eligibility Clock Start?

An athlete's five-year eligibility clock begins at the earlier of (1) initial full-time enrollment at a college or university or (2) the beginning of the academic year following the athlete's 19th birthday.

Who Is Affected by the New Eligibility Model?

The impact depends on where an athlete is in their career:

• Incoming recruits. Incoming student-athletes who enroll under the new model will generally be governed by the five-in-five framework, while transition provisions allow many current Division I athletes to remain under whichever eligibility model is more favorable.
• Currently enrolled athletes. Athletes with eligibility remaining after the 2025–26 year get flexibility. Schools may apply the new age-based model or the previous rules—whichever is more beneficial to that individual.
• Athletes who have just finished four seasons. Those whose fourth season ended at the close of the 2025–26 academic year were granted an additional year of eligibility, though the preliminary injunction issued by the Colorado U.S. District Court has reversed this and granted an extra year to these athletes.

Are There Any Exceptions?

The NCAA has preserved limited exceptions that can pause or extend the eligibility window, including active-duty military service, official religious-based missions, and pregnancy. Outside of these situations, however, the age-based clock generally runs without interruption.

The Rule Has Led to Legal Disputes

The NCAA’s decision not to give an extra year to athletes who just completed four seasons is the most contested part of the change. Similar eligibility fights have already reached the courts in recent years, often raising fairness and antitrust arguments about the value of a lost season of competition and name, image, and likeness earnings. Athletes who believe the rule has been applied incorrectly have grounds to challenge the decision through sports arbitration or litigation.

How Can Student-Athletes Protect Their Eligibility?

Athletes do not have to navigate the transition alone. A few steps can make a meaningful difference:

• Confirm which model your school is applying. Ask your compliance office to document the calculation of your eligibility window in writing.
• Watch for improper decisions. Eligibility disputes often overlap with scholarship and financial aid issues, and some athletes are pushed off a roster under the cover of a rule change.
• Understand the broader landscape. Eligibility now intersects with governance, transfer rules, and revenue questions across all levels of NCAA competition.
• Get advice early. The sooner you understand your options, the more room you have to act before a season slips away.