July 21st, 2026 1:00pm
The Division II Management Council this week recommended that the Division II Executive Board adopt emergency legislation establishing an age-based eligibility model that would create a five-year period of eligibility, effective immediately for the 2026-27 academic year. Under this proposal, a student-athlete’s period of eligibility would begin upon initial full-time collegiate enrollment or the regular academic year immediately following the student-athlete’s 19th birthday, whichever occurs earlier.
The model would replace the current seasons-of-competition and semesters/quarters eligibility model and would provide limited exceptions for active-duty military service, religious missions and pregnancy. The model closely aligns Division II’s eligibility framework with the recently adopted Division I age-based eligibility model.
“As we continue evaluating the future of Division II eligibility, our focus remains on creating legislation that is not only easy to understand but is also equitable and centered on the student-athlete experience,” said Ben Cherry, faculty athletics representative at Cal State San Marcos and chair of the Management Council. “This age-based model simplifies the rules structure by providing clarity and consistency while continuing to support academic success and student-athlete well-being.”