NCAA Approves 5-in-5 Eligibility Model to Curb Transfer Portal Chaos

The NCAA Division I Cabinet on Tuesday approved a sweeping new eligibility model that will give athletes five years to complete five seasons of competition, effectively ending the traditional redshirt year and most medical hardship waivers. The rule, set to take effect for the 2027-28 academic year, is designed to bring stability to a college sports landscape upended by the transfer portal, name-image-likeness (NIL) deals, and a wave of legal challenges.

Under the new model, an athlete's eligibility clock begins at the start of their full-time enrollment or the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever comes first. Exceptions to the five-year limit will only be granted for active-duty military service, religious missions, or maternity leave. The NCAA stated that the change aligns athletic eligibility with general student enrollment patterns and reduces the need for case-by-case waiver determinations.

For currently enrolled athletes, the rules offer a transition period. Those with eligibility remaining after the 2025-26 academic year, as well as incoming freshmen this fall, can either apply the age-based model or continue under previous eligibility rules. Schools must submit any hardship waiver or extension requests to the NCAA by July 31, after which no further waivers will be available. The change will affect all athletes enrolling in 2027-28.

The decision comes amid ongoing litigation, including a lawsuit led by Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia challenging NCAA rules that count junior college seasons against Division I eligibility. Legal experts, including Boise State assistant professor Sam Ehrlich, noted that while the new rule may not immediately halt lawsuits, appellate courts have recently sided with the NCAA in overturning preliminary injunctions. Attorney Mit Winter described the rule as “a very sensible” move toward a more objective eligibility standard, but cautioned that challenges are likely as long as athletes are not considered employees with collective bargaining rights.

Reactions from athletes and analysts highlight the potential impact. Tyler Shough, a seventh-year college quarterback who became an NFL starter, argued that athletes should retain opportunities for medical and redshirt seasons. Tom Loy, a national recruiting analyst for 247Sports, suggested the rule could encourage coaches to retain upperclassmen and reduce reliance on the transfer portal. Others, like Dartmouth assistant women's lacrosse coach Kelsey Fee, see the change as a way to preserve amateurism and open opportunities in less prominent sports. The NCAA aims to simplify eligibility and reduce roster instability, but the full effects will depend on how the rule withstands legal scrutiny.