The NCAA’s Division I cabinet voted Tuesday to replace the long‑standing redshirt and waiver system with a new age‑based eligibility model, colloquially called the “five‑in‑five” plan. The change marks the end of a era in which student‑athletes could extend their college careers through discretionary waivers or extended eligibility periods.
The ‘Five‑in‑Five’ Framework
Under the new framework, a student‑athlete may compete for up to five seasons within a five‑year window, provided they meet age criteria and have not previously exhausted their eligibility. The rule does not apply to those who have already used up their eligibility this academic year, except in cases such as military service, mission trips or pregnancy.
Current college players are granted a one‑time choice: they can elect to remain under the previous regulations if those better serve their academic or athletic goals, or they can transition to the new model, which will automatically govern all scholarships awarded from the 2027 recruiting cycle onward.
Implications for the Wolfpack
The change is projected to give a sizable contingent of NC State’s men’s and women’s basketball roster members an additional year of eligibility, allowing coaches to develop talent over a longer horizon and potentially deepen the team’s depth heading into the next recruiting class.
Beyond individual eligibility, the policy signals a broader shift in how the governing body approaches amateur competition, emphasizing age and duration of participation over the traditional redshirt strategy that has shaped roster construction for decades.