Report: Changes coming to National Letter of Intent penalties
Some changes are reportedly coming to the NCAA’s National Letter of Intent program. The updates have to do with players requesting releases from their NLIs, The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach reported, and would take effect starting with the 2024-25 school year.
According to the new policies, there will no longer be a penalty if a signee requests a release from their NLI following a coaching change, Auerbach reported. Additionally, there won’t be a penalty if an athlete leaves after one academic semester or quarter.
That’s a change from the current policy, which states athletes would lose a season of competition if they got a release if the school doesn’t grant a full release. Additionally, those athletes would have to wait one full academic year — also known as a year in residence — to participate at their new school if they don’t attend the school with which they signed for one full year.
There’s also a potential change involving the transfer portal. Four-year transfers would be able to sign an NLI, according to Auerbach. While they wouldn’t have to, it would essentially mean school shouldn’t be able to reach out to the player once they sign as it would create a recruiting ban.
Under current rules, athletes don’t sign NLIs after transferring. Instead, they sign financial aid guarantees, which mean they still get their financial aid through graduation.
The changes come from the Collegiate Commissioners Association, which started in 1964 and oversees the National Letter of Intent program.
CCA announces NLI changes
Later Tuesday morning, the CCA announced the changes to the NLI program.
“The substantive changes include two exceptions to the NLI penalty for the 2023-24 NLI signing year (prospective student-athletes signing 2024-25 NLIs),” the announcement said. “The NLI penalty would no longer apply if the NLI signee requests a release due to a head coaching change. Additionally, if the NLI signee departs the signing institution after attendance for one academic semester or quarter, the student-athlete will not be subject to the NLI penalty once requesting a release.
“The CCA will also expand the NLI program to provide four-year transfers the opportunity to sign an NLI. Four-year transfers can sign an NLI provided they have entered the NCAA transfer portal which ensures student-athletes do not receive or sign an NLI before transfer portal entry. The transfer NLI is targeted for implementation for the 2023-24 NLI signing year.”
More on the National Letter of Intent
The National Letter of Intent is a two-way binding agreement between the athlete and the school. Per current rules, athletes agree to attend a school for a full academic year and the school agrees to provide financial aid for that academic year — which is two semesters or three quarters.
Some recent high-profile examples of athletes requesting releases from their NLI include former Texas men’s basketball signee Ron Holland and former Florida football quarterback signee Jaden Rashada. Both players did so before competing and, as a result, didn’t receive a penalty.
Holland — a Five Star Plus+ recruit — is the No. 3-ranked prospect in the nation from the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He originally signed with Texas, but was granted his release from his NLI in late May and eventually agreed to play for G-League Ignite.
Rashada’s situation came amid an apparent NIL issue at Florida. Ultimately, the school granted his release and he ended up committing to Arizona State. Rashada was a four-star recruit and the No. 73-ranked player in the nation from the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He was also the No. 6 quarterback in the country.