The NCAA Is About To Change Its Age Eligibility Rule

The NCAA is about to change its age eligibility rule.

In recent years, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and the NCAA's transfer portal, we've seen 24 and 25-year-old "seventh year seniors" competing in college sports. But that's about to change.

The NCAA is moving forward with a change to its eligibility rules. It could be made official soon.

NCAA President Charlie Baker told ESPN today that he's "pretty optimistic" that the new aged-based eligibility proposal will happen.

The projected new rule:

• Five years to compete in Division I starting immediately after high school graduation or 19th birthday, whichever comes first.

That would essentially eliminate the 24 and 25-year-olds competing in college sports right now. However, it would also give student-athletes five years to compete, instead of four.

NCAA releases statement on projected rule change

"The new age-based model produced by the Cabinet and discussed by the board today is a great step forward in simplifying and stabilizing college sports, especially football. In addition to clearly defining an age range of college players, it allows student-athletes to compete over the entirety of their eligibility period," said Sam Edwards, a football student-athlete at Michigan State and member of the board.

"This makes a world of sense in football for coaches and players alike, especially in the context of roster limits, where coaches can now use their entire roster without worrying about 'saving' a subset of players for redshirts. In a sport where many young players come in ready to contribute to varying degrees and in different phases of the game, this new eligibility landscape will be good for the game," Edwards said.

The NCAA likes the proposed change.

"After a robust discussion, the Division I Board of Directors on Monday directed the Division I Cabinet to advance an age-based eligibility concept that, if adopted in its current form, would permit student-athletes up to five years of eligibility beginning the regular academic year after they turn 19 or graduate from high school, whichever happens earlier. Under that model, Division I student-athletes would no longer be limited to only four seasons of competition within their five-year eligibility window," the NCAA said.

Should the change happen?

Copyright The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved