Adopted June 23, 2026 · Division I

The NCAA just rewrote college eligibility. How many years do you have left?

Division I moved to a five-year, age-based eligibility model — no more redshirts, no more season-of-competition limits, no more injury waivers. Use the checker to see what it means for you, then read the plain-English breakdown.

⚖️ Litigation update (as of July 10, 2026): On July 9, a Hamilton County, Ohio judge granted a preliminary injunction blocking the NCAA from enforcing the age-based rule against the 24 men's and women's basketball players who sued — the court ordered they may compete in 2026–27 and use the transfer portal while the case proceeds. The NCAA calls the ruling wrong and is seeking a stay and appeal. Separately, a federal antitrust class action (Campbell v. NCAA, N.D. Ill., filed June 25, 2026) challenges the rule on behalf of athletes who finished a fourth season in 2025–26. For now the injunction covers only the plaintiffs — the rules are in flux, and your school's compliance office decides what applies to you. Sources: Front Office Sports · FOX19 Cincinnati · National Law Review

Check your eligibility

An estimate from the published rule. Your compliance office makes the official call.

Sport Your birth date Year you first enrolled full-time in college Seasons you have already competed

Exceptions (active-duty military, official religious missions, pregnancy) can pause the clock and aren't modeled here. International, JUCO and prep-year paths can shift the age clock — see delayed-enrollment cases.

What actually changed

5 years, one clock

You get five years of eligibility. The clock starts at first full-time enrollment or the academic year after your 19th birthday — whichever comes first — and runs continuously after that.

Redshirts are gone

No more redshirt year, no 4-seasons-in-5 limit, no sport-specific season rules. A year you sit still counts against the five. Read more →

No injury waivers

Medical-redshirt and hardship extension waivers are eliminated. The only pauses are military service, official religious missions, and pregnancy.

Already playing? You're covered

Current athletes and 2026 enrollees get the more favorable of the old rules or the new model. What that means →

Older enrollees lose years

Because the clock can start at age 19, athletes who enroll late (JUCO, missions, juniors) may have fewer playing years. See the cases →

Two start dates

Fall 2027 first-time enrollees are fully under the new model; 2026 and current athletes get the better of old vs new. Timeline →

Still confused?

Start with the full rule explained, compare it side-by-side in old vs new, or check the FAQ.