If you’re a softball player with college aspirations, you’ve likely heard something about the NCAA’s new “five-year eligibility” rule. And yeah-it is kind of a big deal. Effective with the 2026-27 academic year, the NCAA will begin moving Division I and Division II athletes toward a more streamlined, age-based system for eligibility. No more keeping track of seasons played, redshirts, eligibility clocks or all of those different rules and exceptions-the system will focus on