NCAA Division I Council met virtually on Wednesday to discuss what would be a landmark rule change regarding transfer rules for athletes in some sports. According to a report from Sports Illustrated, the Council is close to approving a reversal of a rule dating back to the 1960s that requires athletes in five sports (including football and men’s and women’s basketball) to sit out for one year after transferring unless they have a waiver approved by the NCAA.
If the rule change is adopted, all players in those Division I sports would have the option to exercise a one-time, penalty-free transfer. Players could leave the schools they sign with and have immediate eligibility elsewhere, albeit with certain caveats. For example, fall and winter sports athletes would have to make their transfer decisions by May 1 (though that would be extended to June 1 if there’s a coaching change or non-renewal of scholarship). According to the report, much of the discussion on Thursday centered around making those dates flexible this year.
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This change would continue a trend of relaxing transfer restrictions, as in the past several years, rules were reversed to stop schools from blocking transfer destinations, as well as allowing graduate transfers immediate eligibility for intraconference transfers. Were this rule to be approved, big-time college sports would likely see a much higher exodus rate of prospects looking for better opportunities elsewhere.
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