NCAA tweaks proposed 5-for-5 eligibility model. Here's what's new

Craig Meyer, USA TODAY NETWORK Sat, June 6, 2026 at 12:41 AM UTC

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The NCAA is modifying its recently pitched age-based eligibility model.

According to the alteration, which was announced by the NCAA on Friday, June 5, an athlete's five-year eligibility clock would start upon full-time enrollment at a university or at the beginning of the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever comes first.

The rule would be applicable for all sports and will be voted on at the NCAA's meeting later this month.

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This spring, the NCAA's Division I Cabinet announced a possible new eligibility framework that would allow athletes to compete in a sport for up to five years during a five-year window. Under that proposed model, an athlete's eligibility clock would begin at whatever came first between the academic year following their high school graduation or their 19th birthday.

The modifications revealed on Friday came after input and recommendations from figures in men's ice hockey, men's basketball and service academies. Earlier this week, the NHL and NHL Players' Association revealed they had raised concerns with the NCAA over its potential new eligibility system because college hockey players, who commonly compete at the junior level or at prep school, are often older than athletes in other sports when they enroll at a university.

The interest in amending eligibility rules has come amid a flurry of eligibility-related lawsuits against the NCAA.

The proposed five-year eligibility clock would not come with waivers to extend an athlete's eligibility outside of specific, life-altering circumstances like a pregnancy, official religious missions and active-duty military service.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA 5-for-5 eligibility model proposal tweaked

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