The NCAA Division II has approved a significant change to its eligibility rules, moving to a new age-based eligibility model beginning with the 2026–27 academic year. This update is designed to simplify eligibility, create greater consistency, and better reflect today's student-athlete pathways. What Is Changing? Under the previous system, student-athletes were limited by a combination of seasons of competition and semesters or quarters of enrollment. Under the new model, ath