NCAA adopts age‑based five‑year eligibility model, ending redshirts and most waivers

The NCAA Division I Cabinet voted unanimously to replace the long‑standing eligibility system with an age‑based model that gives student‑athletes five years to compete in five seasons. The eligibility clock starts on a player’s first full‑time enrollment or the academic year after the athlete turns 19, whichever occurs first. The rule eliminates redshirt seasons and most hardship or extension waivers, allowing exceptions only for pregnancy, active‑duty military service and religious missions.

The change applies to athletes who enroll for the 2027‑28 academic year and later; athletes with eligibility remaining after the 2025‑26 season may elect to remain under the previous rules. Schools must submit any waiver requests for the current period by July 31. NCAA President Charlie Baker said the reform will make the rules “easier to understand,” while legal scholars note that lawsuits – already filed by groups of athletes – are likely to continue. Programs such as Notre Dame, Penn State and Michigan are assessing roster‑building and recruiting impacts, with the new model expected to curb the trend of players extending careers into their mid‑20s.