A New Eligibility Landscape
The NCAA announced this week that it has formally adopted a five‑in‑five eligibility model, granting student‑athletes a five‑year window to participate in five seasons of competition across all sports. Eligibility begins the academic year following an athlete turning 19 or upon college enrollment, whichever comes first.
Hockey initially opposed the proposal but succeeded in rallying basketball and men’s soccer to back the measure, framing it as a compromise that preserves opportunities for younger players. The shift will not be uniform; hockey may see a modest adjustment as teams integrate younger talent, but the overall impact is expected to be limited.
The NCAA has been firm that the rule will not be applied retroactively, leaving the Class of 2022 without immediate relief. A coalition that pushed the rule forward included the NHL, the USHL, the Canadian Hockey League, the NCAA itself and the NHL Players’ Association, all of whom signed a joint letter urging the NCAA to consider the proposal before its eventual adoption.
A lawsuit filed by roughly fifteen basketball players from the Class of 2022 alleges that the policy unfairly disadvantages those who entered college before the rule took effect. A recent court decision denied their request for a temporary restraining order, setting a hearing for next Wednesday, while the NCAA maintains that the rule will not be retroactively applied.