NCAA Division I Board Stands Firm on New Age-Based Eligibility Rule Amid Growing Lawsuits

The Division I board of directors reaffirmed its support for the recently adopted age-based eligibility rule, stating that the policy was thoughtfully designed and enjoys broad backing from member institutions. The board emphasized that it will not modify the rule despite a series of lawsuits filed by student-athletes who claim the model unfairly ends their college careers.

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Under the new policy, athletes receive five seasons of competition within a five-year window that begins either when they enroll full-time or in the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever occurs first. The rule largely eliminates waivers for redshirt years, allowing exceptions only for religious missions, pregnancy, or active-duty military service; injury extensions are no longer permitted. Consequently, athletes whose eligibility would have expired by spring 2026 under the prior four-year-over-five-year model will not be granted a fifth season when the rule takes effect this fall.

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A group of basketball players filed a lawsuit in an Ohio state court alleging that the age-based model bars them from further competition. A judge issued a preliminary injunction that permitted the plaintiffs to enter the transfer portal, and the case is now headed to trial. Similar preliminary injunctions have been secured in additional lawsuits across the country, some reportedly filed with coaches’ encouragement.

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SEC commissioner Greg Sankey expressed support for the rule while noting that the conference had not been presented with data justifying the change. He referenced the Protect College Sports Act, a Senate proposal that some believe could address eligibility concerns, but cautioned that the rapid adoption of the rule occurred in a climate of urgency rather than clear evidence of effectiveness. Sankey remarked that the fast-track approach reflects a desire for solutions amid controversy over existing waiver practices, though he questioned whether the new rule will ultimately resolve those issues.

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The board’s firm stance signals that the age-based eligibility framework will be enforced uniformly across Division I institutions. Student-athletes facing eligibility expiration under the old system must now navigate a more restrictive environment, while ongoing litigation may shape future interpretations or adjustments of the policy.

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