NCAA's 5‑to‑Play‑5 Rule Extends Eligibility for Buckeyes
The NCAA has introduced a sweeping change called the “5‑to‑play‑5” rule, which will allow student‑athletes to spread five seasons of competition across a six‑year window beginning with the 2026‑27 academic year. Under the new framework, the traditional redshirt and waiver systems are eliminated, giving players a clearer path to extend their eligibility without having to petition for special exceptions.
Ohio State’s men’s basketball program stands to benefit the most from the adjustment. Twelve of the Buckeyes’ fourteen scholarship athletes now receive an additional year of eligibility, a shift that could reshape roster planning and development strategies for the coming seasons.
Among the players who will not see an immediate extension are Josh Ojianwuna and Myles Herro. Ojianwuna, who transferred from Baylor and missed the previous season because of a knee injury, and Herro, who redshirted last year, each retain the eligibility timeline they already possessed.
Players such as John Mobley Jr., now in his third year at Ohio State, will see three seasons of eligibility remaining, while Amare Bynum, entering his second season, gains four years left. Justin Pippen can remain on the court through the 2028‑29 campaign, Andrija Jelavic will have three years left, Curtis Givens and Jimmie Williams each retain two and three years respectively, and Ivan Njegovan is projected to enjoy three full seasons as a bench‑depth center.
Braylen Nash, a third‑year walk‑on, also gains three years of eligibility, and every member of the 2026 recruiting class will enter college with a full five‑year window. The depth of the roster suggests that the Buckeyes could field a more experienced lineup over the next several seasons.
Coaches and analysts alike are watching how the rule will affect scholarship allocation and player development. With the new flexibility, programs may experiment with longer integration of transfers and walk‑ons, potentially altering the competitive balance in college basketball.