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NCAA's 'five-for-five' eligibility rule moves one step closer to vote
TL;DR
The NCAA's 'five-for-five' eligibility rule is closer to approval, allowing student-athletes up to five years of eligibility starting after they turn 19 or graduate high school. The Division I Cabinet is set to discuss this further on May 22.
Key points
- NCAA's 'five-for-five' eligibility rule is closer to approval
- Allows student-athletes up to five years of eligibility
- Eligibility starts after turning 19 or graduating high school
- Division I Cabinet to meet on May 22 for further discussions
The adoption of the NCAA's "five-for-five" eligibility rule is one step closer to being approved and implemented.
The NCAA Division I Board of Directors announced on Monday that it has directed its Division I Cabinet to advance talks on providing student-athletes with up to five years of eligibility, beginning the regular academic year after they turn 19 or graduate from high school.
The Division I Cabinet, which "kicked down" the "five-for-five" idea earlier this month, is expected to meet next on May 22.
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In a statement to ESPN's Pete Thamel, NCAA president Charlie Baker said he's "pretty optimistic" that the new five-year eligibility proposal will happen.
Currently, the NCAA provides student-athletes with a maximum of four years of eligibility out of high school. This is before the possibility of a redshirt year or a medical redshirt waiver might be added to a student-athlete's eligibility status.
"The time is now to reform the period of eligibility rules to provide Division I student-athletes and our schools clear and consistent standards that align with current college athletes' experiences," Virginia Tech president and chair of the board of directors Tim Sands said in a statement.
"The board fully supports student-athletes receiving the unprecedented financial benefits now available to them and emphasized these changes would protect opportunities for high school student-athletes to access the benefits only college sports can provide, while delivering predictable outcomes for student-athletes and our schools."
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As noted by USA TODAY Sports' John Brice, the "five-for-five" eligibility idea would consist of "five years to play five seasons, no redshirts, virtually no medical exemptions and the potential for waivers due to religious missions, military service or pregnancy." It was unanimously supported by the 10 individuals who spoke to USA TODAY Sports, all of whom serve in various roles as direct stakeholders in college athletics.
"It's great," one power conference front-office director told USA TODAY Sports earlier this month. "Helps just stabilize a lot of things. I’ve always said the issue with college football right now is the guidelines just constantly change, so there’s no consistency. Hoping this just gives a baseline to what to follow and we can continue to plan for the future."
The idea first gained traction in January at the annual American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The NCAA's five-year eligibility proposal isn't expected to be retroactively applied to student-athletes whose eligibility is or will be completed by the spring of 2026. It also mentions that it would maintain the Division I core guarantees, including the funding for student-athletes to complete their degrees for up to 10 years after a student-athlete's eligibility expires if they had not earned their degree.
"The new age-based model produced by the Cabinet and discussed by the board today is a great step forward in simplifying and stabilizing college sports, especially football," Michigan State linebacker and board member Sam Edwards said in a statement. "In addition to clearly defining an age range of college players, it allows student-athletes to compete over the entirety of their eligibility period."
USA TODAY Sports' John Brice contributed to this story.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA advances discussions on 'five-for-five' eligibility rule change
Q&A
What is the NCAA's 'five-for-five' eligibility rule?
The 'five-for-five' eligibility rule allows student-athletes to have up to five years of eligibility starting after they turn 19 or graduate from high school.
When will the NCAA vote on the 'five-for-five' eligibility rule?
The NCAA Division I Cabinet is expected to meet on May 22 to discuss advancing the 'five-for-five' eligibility rule.
What are the implications of the 'five-for-five' eligibility rule for student-athletes?
If approved, the rule would provide student-athletes with more flexibility in their academic and athletic careers by extending their eligibility period.
Who is responsible for advancing the 'five-for-five' eligibility rule?
The NCAA Division I Board of Directors has directed its Division I Cabinet to advance discussions on the 'five-for-five' eligibility rule.
