The NCAA recently adopted a new age-based eligibility model (often mislabeled as '5-in-5' or '5 for 5'), granting Division I athletes up to five years of competition within a five-year period, replacing the previous 'four seasons within five years' rule and largely eliminating redshirts and waivers. This change, effective for student-athletes enrolling in Fall 2027 or later, aims to simplify rules and reduce litigation.