The NCAA Division I Board of Directors is moving toward a landmark overhaul of eligibility rules that could fundamentally reshape the career arcs of some college athletes, including in track & field. Under a new “age-based eligibility” concept, student-athletes would be granted a five-year window of eligibility starting the academic year after they turn 19 or graduate high school. Crucially, the proposal would eliminate the traditional four-season limit, allowing athletes to compete in all five years of their window. This shift provides stability for “late bloomers” while ensuring athletes maximize their collegiate development without the administrative hurdle of redshirting. Because the clock runs continuously, the concept of “saving a year” via a redshirt disappears, you either use the year or you lose it.
A primary driver of this reform is to end the surge of 25+ year-olds competing in NCAA sports. By establishing a hard five-year “stopwatch,” the NCAA aims to curb the recent trend of programs recruiting international or domestic athletes who “go pro” for several years before entering college or just start college late. For a standard high school graduate, eligibility would now permanently expire at age 23 or 24, regardless of whether they were injured, sat out a year, or desired a sixth season. This creates a clear ceiling that prevents the intentional “stretching” of collegiate careers that has become common in the current landscape.
However, the proposal would retain a few critical exceptions for religious missions, military service, and pregnancy/maternity leave. The “mission”carve-out is particularly vital for an institution like BYU, which would effectively retain an “age advantage” over other schools. While a typical athlete’s clock would expire by age 24, a “missionary’s” clock would “pause,” allowing them to return and compete as more mature 25- or 26-year-olds. This proposal aims to simplify the eligibility landscape for the majority of student-athletes while protecting those committed to specific life paths or service.
The Division I Cabinet is expected to meet in May 2026 to work on the specifics, with a possible final vote in June 2026.
