College lacrosse was already rapidly evolving.
And then the new NCAA eligibility rule happened.
Earlier this summer, the NCAA adopted a new age-based, five-year eligibility rule that permits student-athletes to utilize a fifth year of competition. The five years must be completed in a continuous five-year window that begins when whichever of these benchmarks happens first: initial college enrollment or the academic year after their 19th birthday.
The implications of this ruling impact all levels of lacrosse. Whether it be with college recruiting, the transfer portal or reclassifying decisions within the prep ranks, the decision will have a significant effect on the landscape.
The rule is set to go into effect for the 2026-27 academic year at the Division 1 and Division 2 level, meaning the true ramifications are yet to be seen.
In this story, I focused on the college side of the rule. Meaning, how will the five-year eligibility window impact recruiting and transferring at the Division 1 level? I’ll dive into how the prep scene will be affected in a later story.
