Listen Here
By Brady Gazarek
The NCAA is considering a proposal that would grant Division II athletes a fifth year of eligibility, a rule change that coaches and players say could reshape recruiting, roster management and competitive balance across college sports. The Rule will be voted on at the 2026 NCAA Convention in January.
Although the rule has not yet been entirely voted on, programs are already preparing for the potential ripple effects.
University of Findlay assistant women’s basketball coach Isaac White said the additional year would significantly influence recruiting, particularly during the first few years of implementation.
“It would change recruiting high schoolers because we could have our players for longer,” White said. “We have already offered some kids in high school. We will still recruit high school kids and transfers, but the first few years will be tricky.”
White said scholarship management may become one of the toughest challenges for coaching staff.
“Offering a scholarship to a high school kid versus letting a player stay for a fifth year would cause a really hard conversation,” he said. “That money is already out there, at least a committable offer, so if the rule passes, that conversation with a high school kid would be really hard, especially if you want your current player to stay.”
Still, White sees the proposal as an opportunity for programs to grow. He pointed to the “older teams win” trend seen during the COVID-19 era, when extended eligibility contributed to veteran heavy national championship rosters.
“It completely changes the landscape of NCAA college sports, but I look at it as more of an opportunity in the long run,” he said.
The rule could also influence team culture. White said a fifth-year senior could serve as a mentor, though sizable age gaps may create challenges.
“Five years is a big gap from a 17 or 18-year-old freshman to a 23-year-old fifth year senior,” he said. “Off the court, they are not going to be hanging out and doing the same things. But if your culture is strong, it can be a ‘big sister, little brother’ or ‘big brother, little brother’ type relationship.”
For athletes, the academic implications may be just as significant as the athletic ones. Senior golfer Luke Metzger said an extra year of eligibility could help students better manage their decisions to pursue graduate programs or restructure their long-term plans.
“Having an extra year changes the overall outlook on your athletic career,” Metzger said. “I could have frontloaded my classes to start my master’s degree earlier. It definitely plays a role.”
Metzger acknowledged the increased competition the rule may create for incoming recruits, noting that coaches often lean toward athletes who already have experience in the program.
“It can be tough for younger athletes, but it also opens opportunities for those already in school,” he said. “Overall, I think it’s a positive.”
Metzger said returning veterans often set the tone for program expectations.
“They pave the way for what’s expected as a student athlete at Findlay,” he said. “Being able to learn from them every day is extremely important.”
The added year would not come without challenges. Metzger said the mental toll of a long season and travel may weigh heavily on athletes.
“It’s a lot of long hours, long days, and a tough travel schedule,” he said. “Golf is not too physically draining, but everything else on top of it can be challenging.”
Metzger added that the extended eligibility could raise the level of competition across Division II, particularly if Division I athletes transfer to take advantage of additional playing time.
“There won’t be any teams that are too top heavy, and it balances out the playing field for everyone coming in to compete,” Metzger said.
If approved, the fifth-year rule would mark one of the most significant eligibility changes in Division II athletics in years. Coaches and athletes say its effects would reach far beyond playing time, influencing academic planning, team culture and long-term program development.
