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