Kansas football head coach Lance Leipold has publicly endorsed the NCAA’s new “five-for-five” eligibility model, describing the shift as a necessary step toward long-term stability in college athletics. The rule, officially adopted earlier this summer, grants athletes five years of playing eligibility to be used within a five-year window, beginning upon initial enrollment or the first academic year after an athlete turns 19.
The implementation of this model effectively eliminates the controversial hardship waiver system, which had become increasingly complex and subject to abuse, with some athletes extending their careers to seven years. Leipold noted that the previous system had “gotten so far out of hand,” emphasizing that the new standard provides a clear, consistent framework for both coaches and players.
“We’ve got to get out of the waiver business,” Leipold stated during Big 12 Media Days. “If we can get to a point where it’s just, ‘All right, you have five years,’ that’s what it is, and you move on from that.”
The transition is being phased in to accommodate current athletes, who may choose between the old system and the new model based on which provides more eligibility. Starting with the 2027-28 academic year, all incoming freshmen will be required to adhere strictly to the five-for-five rule. While some programs are seeing immediate roster adjustments—including several Kansas players gaining extra years of eligibility—Leipold noted that his staff’s strategic use of redshirts means the impact on his current roster is relatively measured.
Despite the NCAA’s push for clarity, the new landscape faces legal hurdles. An Ohio judge recently granted a preliminary injunction allowing certain athletes who completed their eligibility in 2025-26 to continue competing. The NCAA has confirmed it is seeking to reverse that ruling as it works to solidify the new eligibility standards.