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US President Donald Trump February 13 2026 U.S. President Donald Trump talks with reporters as he and first lady Melania Trump leave the White House on February 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. Trump is traveling to Fort Bragg in North Carolina to visit Special Operations troops who were involved in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro before continuing to his private Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, for the weekend. Washington DC District Of Columbia United States Copyright: xMehmetxEserx
Apr 9, 2026, 12:00 PM CUT
No Redshirts, No Waivers: NCAA To Review Eligibility Rule Post President Trump’s Order
Days after President Donald Trump (POTUS) issued an executive order, the NCAA is set to make significant changes in collegiate athletics.
As per Yahoo Sports, the NCAA proposes eliminating redshirts, waivers, and most exceptions for athletes. The NCAA Division I Cabinet will discuss it next week.
"NCAA athletes would have five full years of eligibility from the time of their 19th birthday or their high school graduation, whichever is earliest," Ross Dellenger, Senior college football reporter of Yahoo Sports, wrote.
There will be an exception for a small group of people: those on maternity leave, military service, or religious missions.
This comes after Senator Tommy Tuberville introduced a bill to reduce college transfers due to NIL deals.
“So, student athletes, to me, should have a five-year window. You start; you’ve got five years. I’m sick of these 28-29-year-olds playing in a young person’s sport and taking your money,” Tuberville said.
The former Ole Miss and Auburn head coach is lobbying to save college sports and makes his point quite clear.
The Cabinet views this new legislation as a pressing need, but the approval timeline stays unclear. Still, the legislation, if approved, may be implemented this fall.
The current NCAA rules allow athletes four playing seasons over a five-year window. Usually, players redshirt their freshman year and go on to play the remaining four years.
This is the right time for the NCAA to introduce laws and rules for collegiate athletics, which is rapidly changing and evolving every day.
What Else Is the NCAA Dealing With?
The NCAA is constantly fighting lawsuits from athletes seeking extended eligibility, and there have been conflicting decisions on the matter.
Like in an action filed by Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss in February, a Mississippi judge extended the eligibility. While another filed by Vols quarterback Joey Aguillar just a month later was denied by a Tennessee judge.
“The phone calls I get from coaches and ADs (athletic directors) are pretty consistent: ‘I don’t like it when what judge ends up in front of and what state they’re in determines whether somebody gets to play another year. That’s not fair,’” NCAA president Charlie Baker said in January at the NCAA convention. “I have a hard time arguing with that.”
Last academic year, the NCAA received 1,450 waiver requests for extended eligibility. Now more than ever, collegiate athletics needs proper eligibility laws in place to minimize this from happening in the future.
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!
