On Tuesday, the NCAA Division I cabinet unanimously approved the age-based eligibility model. The proposal will be become official upon the conclusion of the meeting on Wednesday.
- See Also: NCAA Division I Board of Directors Directs Cabinet to Adopt Five-Year, Age-Based Eligibility
- NCAA Clarifies Status of Current Student-Athletes Under Proposed Age-Based Eligibility Model
- NCAA Expected to Vote on Age Based Eligibility Model in June, But Hockey Pushes Back
- NCAA Makes Adjustments to Age-Based Eligibility Model; Could Vote at the End of June
The new model, which will take effect at the start of the 2026-2027 school year, gives athletes five years of eligibility starting from their 19th birthday or their full-time college enrollment, whichever comes first.
There will be no more injury redshirt seasons with exemptions only remaining for pregnancy, religious missions, and military service.
Waivers for athletes who are hoping to remain eligible under the current eligibility rules (i.e. redshirt seasons and COVID years) must be submitted by July 31st. On the swimming side, this impacts athletes like Luca Urlando and David Johnston, who have both been enrolled for more than five years.
The NCAA has stated that athletes with eligibility remaining after the 2025-2026 school year will remain eligible under “whichever policy is most beneficial.”
The NCAA released the following explanation for implementation process:
- Student-athletes whose fourth season of collegiate eligibility was completed by spring 2026: No additional eligibility.
- Currently enrolled student-athletes with eligibility remaining after the 2025-26 academic year: Flexibility for schools to apply the age-based model or continue with the previous eligibility rules (four seasons to compete with five total years of eligibility), whichever is most beneficial to that individual.
- Prospects expected to graduate from high school in spring 2027: Age-based model only.
- Prospects expected to graduate from high school in spring 2026, regardless of planned enrollment date: Age-based model only.
- Prospects who graduated prior to spring 2026 and have not enrolled: The NCAA Eligibility Center will review the prospect’s individual circumstances and apply the age-based model or existing delayed enrollment eligibility rules, whichever is most beneficial to that individual.
HS graduating class of 2028 and to some extent 2029 recurits are in a bad spot because of this. I also wonder if we are going to see some last minute decommits from the ’27 class. There will be limited spots available to freshman in 2028 because the (college) senior class from 2028 will now still be eligible to swim. You could, concieviable (though very unlikley) keep the exact same roster for the 27-28 season and 28-29 season. I’ve heard many top programs are planning on bringing in small classes…
Could a fast D3 swimmer who falls under the D1 eligibility rules swim a 5th year at a D1?
Does Luca Urlando get ANOTHER year of eligibility?
Hes going to beat grant house’s elibility
if you turn 24 in the middle of the season would you still be eligible in that season or no (considering you turn 19 before graduating high school)
Yes, the clock starts at the beginning of the academic year following your 19th birthday (as long as you’re 23 to begin your 5th year of eligibility, you can finish it)
I say this is bunk…Just let swimmers swim in college no matter how old they are…So un-American!
Guess the mommies and daddies want their little Jonnies and tawdry Susies to be able to take a spot away from a deserving “older” swimmer OR specifically a foreign athlete who is trying to escape their country to experience the magnificent USA. Lives will be ruined from this ruling!
I’m sorry, I know this is nonsense. But why is Susie tawdry?
Great catch – Does you mean people actually read these comments! I meant to say elegant Susies. Mine English not so good sometimes.
Why does this only include DI? What about a 4th year wanting to transfer to a DII for a masters program?
Each Division has to set its own priorities. D1 decided this was a priority – they cannot force it onto D2 or D3 if D2 and D3 don’t want it.
D2 had this up for a vote and tabled it in January this past year, but the anticipation is they were waiting for D1 to pull the trigger first, and then will follow.
Can a swimmer use their 5 th year of eligibility at a different school if they are attending than schools graduate program?
Yes
College class of 2026 SOL here. Everyone just before them got an extra year because of Covid, now everyone after them gets an extra year just because.
Time to get a job. I know I know…