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Amid a growing number of lawsuits, the NCAA is standing by its new age-based eligibility rules. In a statement Thursday, the association said it does not plan to “modify their application.”
The NCAA Division I Cabinet approved the age-based model last month in an overhaul of its eligibility rules. An athlete’s “clock” starts when they enroll full-time in college or following their 19th birthday, whichever comes first, and they will get five years of eligibility. Recruits from the 2027 cycle will be age-based only.
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However, athletes whose fourth seasons of collegiate eligibility were completed by spring 2026 will not receive additional eligibility. That has resulted in lawsuits against the NCAA as some seek that extra year. The NCAA is maintaining its process, though, as implementation continues.
“We are encouraged by the Division I membership’s broad support of the age-based eligibility rules,” the NCAA’s statement read. “The design of the new rules, including its implementation strategy, was thoughtful and well informed, and was unanimously supported by the Cabinet, including its student-athlete members.
“The Board has no plans to modify their application, notwithstanding a series of lawsuits recently filed on behalf of student-athletes with no remaining eligibility. We look forward to ensuring that the age-based eligibility rules are enforced consistently so that all institutions play by the same rules, like all participants in sports.”
Shortly after the NCAA approved a transition to an age-based eligibility model, a lawsuit was filed in Ohio with 15 athletes listed as plaintiffs, including Xavier’s Filip Borovicanin and Cincinnati’s MJ Collins. A judge granted a preliminary injunction in the case, allowing those athletes to suit up this coming season.
After that ruling, the NCAA said the injunction was “wrong” and it plans to seek an immediate stay. The association later questioned the judge’s “undisclosed” ties, but was later denied a stay of the injunction.
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Other lawsuits have also come down, including one in California seeking an injunction for more than 45 athletes. The group includes former UCLA guard Donovan Dent and former Texas guard Jordan Pope, and they’re awaiting a decision.
Additionally, former Texas offensive lineman Cole Hutson also filed suit and was granted a temporary restraining order this week, On3’s Pete Nakos reported. That paves the way for him to return to the college game despite going through rookie minicamp in the NFL.
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