NCAA is pushing new 5-in-5 rules. Will it help seniors like UNC’s Seth Trimble?

The NCAA is moving toward one of the most significant eligibility changes in decades: an age-based model that would give Division I athletes up to five seasons of competition.

But the rule, if approved, would not extend eligibility for athletes who have already completed their college careers — such as UNC guard Seth Trimble or Duke forward Maliq Brown.

In a statement released Monday, the NCAA said the proposed change is not expected to apply retroactively to athletes whose eligibility is or will be exhausted “by the spring of 2026.”

The proposal would establish a five-year window of eligibility that begins the regular academic year after an athlete graduates from high school or turns 19, whichever comes first. It would effectively eliminate traditional redshirt seasons and reduce the use of eligibility waivers.

“The time is now to reform the period of eligibility rules to provide Division I student-athletes and our schools clear and consistent standards that align with current college athletes’ experience,” said Tim Stands, Virginia Tech’s president and the chairman of the NCAA’s Division I Board of Directors, in a statement. “The board fully supports student-athletes receiving the unprecedented financial benefits now available to them and emphasized these changes would protect opportunities for high school student-athletes to access the benefits only college sports can provide, while delivering predictable outcomes for student-athletes and our schools.”

What changes under the NCAA’s proposal?

Under current NCAA rules, Division I athletes are allowed four seasons of competition within a five-year window. The new model would shift to five seasons of eligibility in five years, simplifying the model but tightening overall flexibility.

If approved, athletes would:

• Have five seasons of competition over five years
• Lose traditional redshirt structure
• Begin eligibility timing after high school graduation or age 19 (whichever comes first)

No retroactive eligibility for current players

The NCAA has made it clear the proposal would not reopen eligibility for current or recently graduated athletes.

That means no additional playing time for athletes who:

• Completed eligibility during the 2025-26 season
• Or otherwise exhausted eligibility under current rules

Thus eliminates the hopes for an athlete like Trimble, who entered his name in the transfer portal this offseason to preserve his options amid the debate over the NCAA’s 5-in-5 debate.

The NCAA may face lawsuits from players, such as Trimble, who have been left out.

Some athletes impacted have already shared their dissatisfaction on social media, including former North Carolina basketball player Tyler Nickel.

“So we had to play with and against 5th years our entire time in college but we don’t get one?” Nickel wrote on X. “And everyone after us gets one too?”

Nickel played last year — his fourth collegiate season — at Vanderbilt. He initially transferred from UNC to Virginia Tech before landing with the Commodores. He averaged a career-best 13.5 points and 3.3 rebounds last season.

Impact of 5-in-5 rule on North Carolina programs

For the Triangle programs, and across the country, this proposed change would primarily affect future recruiting classes rather than current players.

For incoming freshmen, the rule would mean:

• A guaranteed five-year eligibility window
• No redshirt calculations
• More straightforward roster planning for coaches and athletic programs

The most significant impact may be felt in football, where redshirting has long been a key developmental tool.

Under the proposed system:

• Players would no longer “preserve” eligibility through limited game participation
• Coaches would be encouraged to play athletes when ready, rather than manage eligibility thresholds
• Roster construction may shift toward longer-term five-year planning cycles

When could NCAA vote on potential 5-in-5 rule?

The NCAA Division I Cabinet is expected to continue discussions and could take up a vote as soon as its next meeting on May 22.

If approved, the new eligibility model could take effect as early as the 2026-27 academic year.