NCAA approves new five-year eligibility format for student-athletes

The NCAA Division I Cabinet has unanimously approved a new age-based eligibility format set to take effect in the 2026-27 academic year. This change replaces the previous model of counting individual seasons of competition with a single, five-year eligibility clock. Division II has also decided to adopt this model.

The five-year clock begins upon initial full-time enrollment, official competition for a college team, or at the start of the first regular academic year following an athlete's 19th birthday. This shift allows many student-athletes to compete for up to five seasons, potentially including a year during graduate school.

These rule changes are expected to impact roster management and recruiting. In college basketball, for example, the increased eligibility for most athletes may lead to fewer available roster spots for incoming classes, such as the Syracuse University 2027 recruiting class, as existing players remain eligible for longer periods.