Redefining College Eligibility
The NCAA’s Division I Cabinet recently voted to adopt an age‑based eligibility framework that ties a student‑athlete’s eligibility clock to either turning 19 or entering college, whichever comes first.
Under the new model, the era of the traditional redshirt year and the medical hardship waiver is set to disappear, as athletes who already exhausted a redshirt as true freshmen will automatically receive an additional year of eligibility.
The ripple effect is already being felt on the football field, where standout players such as Darius Taylor, Greg Johnson, John Nestor and TJ Bush Jr. now have the prospect of returning for a fifth season of competition.
In men’s basketball, the policy opens the door for Kyan Evans, Bobby Durkin and Jaylen Crocker‑Johnson to extend their collegiate careers into the 2027‑28 campaign, potentially reshaping roster dynamics for their programs.
Grace Grocholski, a key figure on the women’s basketball team, can elect to add a final season after the 2026‑27 schedule, giving her an extra window to pursue both athletic and academic goals.
Similarly, Tori McKinney joins the growing list of athletes who will benefit from the extended eligibility, a change that could influence long‑term scholarship planning and team building strategies.