NCAA Eligibility Change 2026: Why Roster Spots Are About to Get Harder
🏀 The Parent's Recruiting Survival Guide https://www.keithmondillo.com/the-par...
🏀 FREE Recruiting Guide: The College Recruiting Jump Start - FREE https://www.keithmondillo.com/parents...
NCAA Division II Moves to Age-Based Eligibility (5-Year Clock): Why It Hurts High School Recruits Now
Keith Mondillo explains that on Tuesday, July 21, the NCAA Division II Management Council recommended emergency legislation to adopt an age-based eligibility model for 2026–27, matching Division I’s June 23 move. Under the proposal, eligibility begins at full-time enrollment or the academic year after an athlete’s 19th birthday (whichever comes first), allowing five years to compete and largely eliminating redshirts and waivers except for military service, religious missions, and pregnancy. He argues Division II is rushing to avoid cross-division transfer and compliance chaos as Division I faces lawsuits and a preliminary injunction for 24 players. Mondillo warns injunctions and the transition period could extend older athletes’ roster stays, creating roster logjams that reduce freshman opportunities across divisions, with Division III already discussing impacts.
Get Recruited Smarter: The "NEW" College Recruiting Jumpstart Pack
4 must-have guides (37 Pages) to help your family avoid costly mistakes, communicate with confidence, and build real recruiting momentum.
📦 Inside the"NEW" Jump Start Pack You’ll Receive:
1. The College Recruiting Game Plan
2. The Biggest Mistake Athletes Make During the July Live Period
3. Ten Action Steps to Take When Coaches Don’t Contact You After a Live Event
4. The 7-Day Recruiting Jumpstart
5. BONUS VIDEO: The 3 Signs Your Child Is RecruitableÂ
