The NCAA is preparing a dramatic rewrite of its athlete eligibility rules, shifting to an age-based standard that would grant college football players five full seasons of competition while largely eliminating redshirts and hardship waivers.
According to a report from Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the proposal — developed over recent weeks and recently briefed to top conference and school administrators — would give athletes five years of eligibility starting on their 19th birthday or high school graduation, whichever comes first. The new “5-for-5” model replaces the longtime four-seasons-in-five-calendar-years framework that has relied heavily on redshirts (including medical) and waiver requests to extend playing time.
Exceptions would be narrow: only maternity leave, military service or religious missions would still qualify. Most redshirting and waiver options would disappear.
The push is driven by a surge in eligibility lawsuits that have frustrated administrators and drained NCAA resources. The association received 1,450 waiver requests last academic year, granting roughly two-thirds. Of those denied, more than 70 led to litigation. The NCAA has spent at least $16 million on eligibility cases in the past year alone. Inconsistent court rulings — such as a Mississippi judge granting extra eligibility to Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss while a Tennessee judge denied a similar request from Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar — have created a patchwork system.
“I don’t like it when what judge ends up in front of and what state they’re in determines whether somebody gets to play another year. That’s not fair,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said at the January convention.
A Division I Cabinet committee will discuss the proposal next week. While approval and exact timing are still unclear, sources say implementation could begin as early as fall 2026 with a phased rollout designed to protect current athletes’ existing eligibility.
The change would align with other major shifts in college sports, including the House settlement’s strict roster limits and President Donald Trump’s recent executive order calling for eligibility and transfer reforms. In today’s NIL and transfer-portal era, veteran players — especially quarterbacks commanding $4 million to $6 million annually in some cases — have strong financial incentives to stay in school longer. But every extra season for one player takes a roster spot from a younger recruit, transfer or junior-college prospect.
For football programs, the implications are significant. Redshirting has long been a vital developmental tool for quarterbacks, offensive linemen and other physically maturing players. Recruiting timelines and roster planning will likely need major adjustments if the rule passes.
More details on grandfather clauses and rollout are expected in the coming weeks, but the proposal signals the NCAA’s intent to bring order to a system that has grown increasingly complex and litigious.