NCAA president Charlie Baker said he is “pretty optimistic” that the organization’s proposed age-based eligibility rule will be approved, while clarifying that the anticipated rollout is not expected to be retroactive.
According to Baker, the implementation is not expected to include athletes who graduated or exhausted their eligibility during the 2025-26 season. That distinction would be significant for players whose college careers had already concluded before any new rule takes effect.
Eligibility proposal under review
The proposal centers on age-based eligibility, a potential shift in how the NCAA determines participation limits for athletes. Baker’s comments indicate confidence in the measure’s chances, though the rule has not yet been described as formally adopted.
The non-retroactive approach would mean the change is expected to apply only moving forward, rather than reopening eligibility for athletes whose status was completed under the previous framework.