NCAA Division I Board Maintains Age-Based Eligibility Rule

NCAA Division I Board of Directors reaffirmed on July 23, 2026, its commitment to the age-based eligibility rule that has led some athletes to pursue legal action in an effort to extend their college careers. The Division I Cabinet had previously approved this rule last month and released a similar statement after a number of basketball players initiated a lawsuit in an Ohio state court, arguing that the new age-based model unjustly excludes them from further competition.

Since the initial lawsuit, additional legal actions have emerged across the United States, some reportedly instigated with support from the athletes' coaches. The board's statement confirmed that it will not alter its position, unlike its previous response to a court ruling in favor of former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia in 2024, where it allowed an extra year of eligibility to athletes who had competed at non-NCAA institutions for at least a season.

"We are encouraged by the Division I membership’s broad support of the age-based eligibility rules," the board stated. "The design of the new rules, including its implementation strategy, was thoughtful and well-informed, and was unanimously supported by the Cabinet, including its student-athlete members."

The board emphasized that it has no intentions to modify the rule's application, despite the recent lawsuits initiated by student-athletes with no remaining eligibility. It expressed its commitment to uniformly enforce the age-based eligibility rules to ensure that all institutions comply with the same standards, akin to the regulations in place for all participants in sports.

The age-based eligibility rule permits athletes five seasons of competition over a five-year timeframe, beginning with either their full-time enrollment or the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever comes first. This change effectively removes the possibility for waivers or redshirt years for extended eligibility, except in cases involving religious missions, pregnancy, or active-duty military service. Injured athletes will not be granted extensions.

Athletes who were due to lose eligibility by spring 2026 under the previous eligibility model – which allowed for four years of competition over five years – will not be afforded a fifth year under the new regulations set to take effect this fall. This situation was the catalyst for the first lawsuit, filed in Ohio, where a judge issued a preliminary injunction permitting players to access the transfer portal; the matter is now progressing to trial, with similar preliminary injunctions granted in other jurisdictions.

Earlier in the week, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey noted that the conference ultimately supported the new rule, despite some leaders’ reservations regarding its timing. He mentioned that the Senate was considering the Protect College Sports Act which was perceived as a potential remedy to the situation, but noted a lack of presented data justifying the change. "We got on a fast track in this environment because ... people are looking for solutions," Sankey explained during an interview with The Associated Press. He acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding whether the new rule would indeed provide a better solution given the ongoing issues with waivers and eligibility controversies.