NCAA’s “5-in-5” Eligibility Rule Likely Delayed, Leaving Current College Seniors in Limbo

BleedGopher · 2025-10-13T11:27:20-0500

Continuing to delay this ruling is so odd. There's big ramifications to roster construction and HS recruiting, delaying it makes it challenging on coaches.

Key Takeaways

NCAA’s proposed “5-in-5” rule would allow college basketball players five seasons of eligibility in five years, eliminating traditional redshirting
Current seniors, including Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year Braden Smith, may not benefit if the rule isn’t enacted by this month
Big Ten coaches report hearing “something different every week” on timing, with most expecting implementation no earlier than 2026-27
The rule change would reduce roster spots available for incoming high school recruits, pushing more athletes toward junior college or lower-division programs
Purdue’s redshirt success with Trey Kaufman-Renn, who became an All-American candidate after sitting out 2021-22, represents the development model at risk

Conflicting Timelines Create Roster Planning Challenges

College basketball coaches at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago received no clear answer on whether the NCAA’s proposed “5-in-5” eligibility model will take effect for the 2025-26 season.

The proposed rule would allow players five seasons of competition within a five-year span, removing the traditional redshirt year where athletes practice but don’t compete. Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said the latest information suggests implementation won’t happen this year. “The thing about it is you hear something different every week,” Hoiberg said. “The last we heard, it’s probably not going to happen this year, but it may happen in the future.”

Minnesota coach Niko Medved said that for the rule to apply to current seniors, it would need approval before football season ends. “My feeling is that it doesn’t happen this year, unless it happens quickly,” Medved said. “If you try to do it retroactively later, that might cause some challenges.”