What the NCAA’s ‘Five for Five’ rule means for athletes

The new ‘Five for Five’ rule was approved on June 23, 2026. Photo: Stock

The NCAA’s new rule sounds simple: five years to play college sports. But it does not guarantee every athlete five seasons. 

UNC field hockey players Ryleigh Heck, Dani Mendez, and Sietske Brüning show why the change is confusing. 

UNC Athletics records show that all three entered college in 2022 and played four straight seasons through 2025. None redshirted. Inside Carolina reported that they were pursuing graduate studies at UNC when they sought a fifth season. 

How the Five-Year Clock Works 

Under NCAA guidance, the five-year clock begins at the earlier of two points: full-time enrollment at any college, including a junior college or a school outside the United States, or the applicable academic year after the athlete’s 19th birthday. 

The clock usually keeps running even if an athlete sits out. A missed season does not automatically create a sixth year. 

Why the UNC Players Went to Court 

The transition rule did not automatically give another season to athletes who had used all their eligibility by the end of 2025–26. Heck, Mendez, and Brüning argued that this unfairly excluded athletes in their position. 

They are among 97 plaintiffs in Daley v. NCAA, according to court records and Inside Carolina. On Sept. 23, an Indiana judge temporarily allowed the plaintiffs to compete while the case continues. 

A second case, Wisne v. NCAA, briefly offered wider protection to similar Division I athletes. 

A Colorado judge granted temporary relief on July 31. The 10th Circuit paused that order on Aug. 21, meaning the athletes were immediately ineligible to play, while the NCAA appealed, according to federal court records. 

There is still no final nationwide answer for athletes in this situation. 

How Many Athletes Are Affected? 

The Indiana case covers 97 plaintiffs. No verified nationwide total has been made public. 

Each athlete’s answer depends on when the clock started, how many seasons the athlete played, and whether the athlete meets academic rules. 

What It Means for Graduate Students 

Under the NCAA’s age-based model, an athlete who earns a bachelor’s degree in four years may compete during the fifth year while enrolled in graduate school, provided the athlete remains within the five-year period and meets academic and institutional requirements.  

NCAA guidance does not require an injury, family emergency or other unexpected event simply to use that available fifth year. Graduate enrollment alone, however, does not create eligibility. 

International athletes face another issue.  

NCAA guidance says full-time enrollment at a college outside the United States can start the five-year clock before an athlete joins an American team.  

Separately, federal immigration rules require international students to maintain valid status and qualifying enrollment; NCAA eligibility does not itself extend a visa or authorize a longer stay. 

The current ruling only applies to Division I and II athletes.

Thank you for reading Female Athlete News. Reach us at femaleathletenews@gmail.com with a tip or story idea. Follow us on our social media pages for the latest news.