By James Sutherland on SwimSwam
As the NCAA appears destined to adopt the proposed age-based, five-year eligibility model as soon as later this month, several questions have been raised about the status of student-athletes currently in the midst of their eligibility.
As reported by Yahoo Sports‘ Ross Dellenger on Thursday, the NCAA distributed a chart to member schools detailing where each student-athlete will stand if the model is implemented.
The biggest key is that for current student-athletes, they won’t have seasons of eligibility taken away from them. If they have eligibility remaining, they’ll fall under whichever eligibility policy is “most beneficial,” either the current rules or the five-year model.
For example, a student-athlete entering their junior year in 2026-27 will have three more seasons of eligibility, assuming they started their collegiate career directly after graduating high school (starting in the fall of 2024) and haven’t taken a redshirt year.
For student-athletes who exhausted their eligibility in the 2025-26 season, they won’t be granted another year of eligibility.
ELIGIBILITY CHART
Courtesy of Ross Dellenger
Also: Athletes with eligibility remaining will fall under whichever eligibility policy – current rules or the new 5-year rule – that is “most beneficial.”
As written in our original story on the 5-year concept, athletes won’t have seasons taken from them t.co/8QEC4GO3OM t.co/tlEbq8bE5y
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) April 30, 2026
The five-year, age-based eligibility model gives student-athletes five full years of eligibility, with their clock beginning at the time of their 19th birthday or high school graduation, whichever is earlier.
The new model also clamps down on the restrictions surrounding waiver exemptions and redshirt requests. Redshirt seasons would no longer exist, and waivers to miss a season without having it count against their eligibility would only apply to a select group, such as those on maternity leave, military service or religious missions.
Currently, student-athletes have a five-year eligibility clock to complete four seasons of competition, with the option to regain a season of eligibility through a redshirt or waiver request.
Earlier this week, the Division I Board of Directors directed the Division I Cabinet to move forward with the new eligibility model.
Read more about the details and the rationale behind the changes here.The Cabinet will have a meeting to discuss the changes on May 22, which could include a vote. NCAA President Charlie Baker has said he’s “pretty optimistic” it’s going to pass.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: NCAA Clarifies Status of Current Student-Athletes Under Proposed Age-Based Eligibility Model
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