NCAA’s Potential Fifth Year Could Reshape Division II Athletics

Natalia Bowles

Senior reporter

The NCAA is considering granting Division II athletes an additional year of eligibility, a move that could significantly alter roster management, scholarship distribution, and competitive balance across programs nationwide. 

While no final decision has been announced, athletic departments are already preparing for potential shifts that could affect student-athletes as early as next fall.

Trevecca Nazarene University officials say the additional year would bring both opportunities and challenges. 

Compliance Director Bri Winic explained that the proposed change could provide more flexibility for athletes looking to extend their academic experience beyond a traditional four-year degree.

“Anytime you give athletes the potential to continue their education, whether through graduate school or additional coursework, it opens doors for academic growth,” Winic said.

The proposal comes at a time when many Division II programs are already stretched thin due to increased transfer-portal movement and evolving name, image, and likeness dynamics. Coaches nationwide are watching closely to see whether the fifth year could help stabilize rosters or further complicate recruitment cycles.

Trevecca Athletic Director Mark Elliott noted that reactions around Division II have become increasingly mixed, even in conferences that initially supported the legislation.

“What was once viewed as an almost automatic yes, we want to support this legislation has slowed across Division II,” Elliott said. “Our conference unanimously supported it two months ago, and now we’re seeing hesitation everywhere. This isn’t just a Gulf South issue anymore. This is happening nationwide.”

Bridgeport Tusler, assistant women’s basketball coach, highlighted both advantages and drawbacks for athletes.

“I think there are definitely positives in general. Kids get to play another year, they get another year of education, and there’s less stress on finishing in four,” Tusler said. “You can also potentially start a master’s program. On the flip side, you’re in school for five years, and at 23, it’s hard. It was definitely time for me to get out. But as a coaching staff, there are mixed feelings. You get to truly develop a kid for an extra year, but it could also give them another year to leave or transfer somewhere else.”

Malan Thrift, assistant softball coach, also spoke on the benefits of a fifth year.

“The positives of implementing the fifth year are having a longer time to complete their undergraduate degree. It gives them an opportunity to play their sport longer, and it also provides the potential to start a master’s program if they complete their undergraduate degree in three to four years,” Thrift said.

Elliott also pointed to a philosophical divide within Division II leadership.

“Division III sees this as a chance to separate themselves from everyone else,” he said. “On the other hand, some presidents are hesitant about the idea because of the financial burden.”

He added that while the rule could help retain talent and improve competitive stability, it may not align with long-term budget constraints.

“The Division II Management Council has recommended legislation that would permit student-athletes to participate in up to five seasons of competition during their first 10 semesters or 15 quarters of full-time enrollment,” the NCAA stated in a press release, ‘Division II Management Council Supports Proposal for 5 Seasons of Competition,’ published July 23, 2025.

Winic emphasized some common misconceptions about the proposal.

“The biggest misconception is that people think this rule would apply across all NCAA divisions,” Winic said. “If someone is in Division I or Division III, they could only use this fifth year if they transferred into a Division II program. The rule doesn’t follow them in their own division. Only Division II offers it.”

Winic also emphasizes the benefit of keeping an already developed athlete instead of recruiting a freshman who needs to adapt to college athletics. 

“Of course, one of the biggest benefits is the experience,” Winic added. “Keeping a fifth-year athlete who’s already developed is very different from bringing in a freshman who’s brand new to college athletics.”

If approved, the rule could influence prospective high school recruits, who may face fewer open roster spots in future seasons. That shift could ripple down to admissions, playing time, and competitive depth across conferences.

For now, athletic departments await the NCAA’s next update, expected later this academic year. Until then, schools like Trevecca will continue preparing for both possible outcomes.

“We want to make sure our student-athletes have every opportunity to grow and compete,” Elliott said. “The focus is on supporting them on and off the field and helping them succeed.”