NCAA pauses talk on five years of eligibility

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The NCAA has paused discussions on a potential rule change that would have extended eligibility to five seasons for all student-athletes.

In an email sent Wednesday to all Division I athletic directors, commissioners, presidents, and chancellors, Josh Whitman, chair of the Division I Cabinet, announced that the proposal has been tabled for now. Whitman wrote that all current student-athletes — as well as those competing during the 2026-27 season — will “maintain existing eligibility rules as they pertain to student-athletes competing in no more than four seasons of athletics competition in a particular sport over a consecutive five-year period.”

Whitman added that the cabinet continues to examine possible adjustments to the rule, along with several related regulations, but no formal action is expected before the 2027-28 academic year.