NCAA says consecutive five-year eligibility will not be implemented next academic year
By Jeff Goodman & Sam Lance
The NCAA, after plenty of speculation and uncertainty throughout the coaching industry, announced that players potentially having five consecutive years of eligibility will not be implemented for the 2026-27 academic year.
“During its October meeting, the Division I Cabinet determined that, for the remainder of the current academic year and for rosters competing during the 2026-27 academic year, it will maintain existing eligibility rules as they pertain to student-athletes competing in no more than four season of athletics competition in a particular sport over a consecutive five-year period,” said Josh Whitman, the Chair of the Division I Cabinet and Illinois’ Athletic Director, via a statement.
The chance of the rule being put in place has impacted recruiting, especially at the high school level, sources have told The Field of 68. The 2026 recruiting class has moved along a lot slower in terms of commitments, likely due to this uncertainty and the NIL-related questions that have come with the House Settlement. Those families who were concerned about veteran players possibly receiving more eligibility now have clarity, along with the coaches.
“The Cabinet is studying these policies, along with several related eligibility rules, and will later consider what changes, if any, to implement for future academic years,” Whitman said. “When challenged, the current rules have been upheld by the overwhelming majority of courts. The Cabinet understands, however, that the situation for student-athletes, coaches and administrators remains untenable, with rules changing seemingly on a moment’s notice because of any single court’s temporary ruling.”
Whitman continued: “Congress continues to be the best forum to protect these eligibility rules and other academic standards, while providing clarity for current and future student-athletes. As these situations demonstrate, we need bipartisan legislation that empowers college sports to set these basic rules that support academics as a foundational purpose of college athletics.”
Subscribe to The Field of 68 on YouTube
Subscribe to The Field of 68’s Daily Newsletter
