NCAA to maintain 4-year eligibility rules for through 2026-27
The Division I Administrative Committee on Wednesday, Oct. 22, released a statement regarding eligibility rules for student-athletes for the remainder of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years.
In a statement shared, the committee said it will ‘maintain existing eligibility rules as they pertain to student-athletes competing in no more than four seasons of athletics competition in a particular sport over a consecutive five-year period.’
That ruling from the committee comes after two Vanderbilt football players ― Langston Patterson and Issa Ouattara ― were among 10 current and former college athletes who challenged the NCAA in a lawsuit in September, seeking to allow athletes to compete for all five years of eligibility.
Statement from Division I Cabinet on eligibility
‘During its October meeting, the Division I Cabinet determined that, for the remainder of the current academic year and for the rosters competing during the 2026-27 academic year, it will maintain existing eligibility rules as they pertain to student-athletes competing in no more than four seasons of athletics competition in a particular sport over a consecutive five-year period,’ said Josh Whitman — chair of the Division I Cabinet and athletics director at Illinois — in a statement.
‘The Cabinet is studying these policies, along with several related eligibility rules, and will later consider what changes, if any, to implement for future academic years. When challenged, the current rules have been upheld by the overwhelming majority of courts. The Cabinet understands, however, that the situation for student-athletes, coaches and administrators remains untenable, with rules changing seemingly on a moment’s notice because of any single court’s temporary ruling.
‘Congress continues to be the best forum to protect these eligibility rules and other academic standards, while providing clarity for current and future student-athletes. As these situations demonstrate, we need bipartisan legislation that empowers college sports to set these basic rules that support academics as a foundational purpose of collegiate athletics.’
