The NCAA's Proposed "5 in 5" Rule: What Student-Athletes Should KNow

The NCAA may be moving toward one of the most significant eligibility changes in modern college athletics.

Last week, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors directed the Division I Council and Division I Cabinet to continue advancing a proposed age-based eligibility model that would fundamentally change how student-athletes use their years of competition.

The proposal, commonly referred to as the “5-in-5” model, would allow athletes to compete in five full seasons within a five-year window, replacing the current structure of four seasons in five years.

According to the NCAA, the proposed change is designed to simplify the eligibility process while creating more consistency across Division I athletics. The current system has become increasingly complicated in recent years due to transfer portal movement, medical hardship waivers, COVID extensions, and ongoing legal challenges surrounding athlete eligibility.

Under the proposed model, an athlete’s five-year eligibility clock would begin either after high school graduation or when the athlete turns 19 years old — whichever comes first. If adopted, the rule would eliminate the traditional redshirt system, since athletes would already have five seasons available during their eligibility period. The NCAA has also indicated that the proposal would reduce many of the hardship waivers and special eligibility exceptions that currently exist.

For student-athletes and families, the proposal could significantly reshape the recruiting process. Coaches may begin building older and more experienced rosters, which could affect scholarship distribution and roster availability across many sports. The changes could also impact prep school athletes, international prospects, and athletes considering delayed enrolment pathways because eligibility would now be tied more directly to age and timing after high school.

While some athletes may initially view the proposal as simply “an extra year,” the long-term impact could be much larger. Programs may place increased value on athletes who can contribute immediately, while roster planning could become more strategic over a full five-year development cycle. Recruiting timelines may also continue shifting earlier as programs adapt to potential roster congestion and scholarship limitations.

The NCAA has clarified that the proposal is not expected to apply retroactively to athletes whose eligibility expires under the current system. Current student-athletes competing during the 2025-26 academic year would likely remain under the existing four-seasons-in-five-years structure.

Although the proposal is still moving through the NCAA legislative process, momentum around the model continues to grow as college athletics evolves rapidly in the NIL and transfer portal era. The NCAA has emphasized that the goal is to create a clearer and more manageable eligibility structure while reducing the growing number of waiver cases and eligibility disputes that schools and athletes currently face.

For recruits and families navigating the recruiting process, staying informed on these potential changes will be important moving forward. If implemented, the “5-in-5” model could influence everything from scholarship opportunities to roster construction and long-term athlete development.

Elite Sports & Education (ESE) will continue monitoring the proposal closely and helping student-athletes understand how these evolving NCAA rules may affect recruiting opportunities at every level.