Brace yourselves: New NCAA 5-for-5 eligibility rules will have a ripple effect
The NCAA, in its infinite wisdom, is on the verge of implementing Donald Trump’s 5-for-5 executive order. In other words, five years eligibility from the day an athlete graduates from high school or his 19th birthday, whichever comes first. Paired with the one free transfer and all transfers thereafter you sit a year that is expected to pass, this legislation can bring sanity back into college sports.
Well, sort of.
As Ross Dellenger of On3 writes today, it could happen and be in place starting with the 2026-27 athletic/academic year. But here’s the kicker: Does that mean current seniors can come back for one more year?
Dellenger writes, “We don’t know the NCAA’s exact thinking here, but based on its past actions, there’s a good chance the association would grandfather in at least a segment of athletes. Why? To potentially avoid more legal troubles and because — hey, look here — it’s the right thing to do.
“After all, those athletes who are completing or have completed this year their fourth season of eligibility within a four-year window would theoretically be eligible for a fifth season under the concept. This all assumes that the concept is formally adopted — and that might not happen until the summer, if it happens at all.”
To put it into perspective, if seniors were grandfathered in, undrafted football players who never redshirted and had been at the University of Florida could come back for another year. Corner Devin Moore played four years without a redshirt so he would be eligible to come back if he isn't drafted. Basketball’s Xaivian Lee isn’t likely to be drafted by the NBA. He could have another year. Denzel Aberdeen, who has petitioned the NCAA for a fifth year, would be immediately eligible for the upcoming season. The Florida gymnastics team, which competes at the NCAA Championships today in Fort Worth could potentially return the spectacular Selena Harris-Miranda and All-American eMjae Frazier.
Here is another thought: Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu could play TWO MORE seasons of basketball.
Consider the ripple effect through the Southeastern Conference in basketball where schools like Tennessee could potentially return leading scorer Ja’Kobi Gillespie and rim protector Felix Okpara. Or at Texas where Tramon Mark and Jordan Pope could come back. None of those guys will be drafted but they’re very good collegiate players and both Tennessee and Texas have plenty of available scholarships.
This could also change perspectives about the portal. Rather than seeing a junior in the portal as a one-and-done, coaches might be more inclined to take a longer look considering two years are possible.
WHAT ABOUT TOMMY HAUGH?
Alex Condon’s return is secured and the best intel on Rueben Chinyelu says the national defensive player of the year will be announcing soon. So, what about Tommy Haugh? Although he’s expected to be taken in the bottom third of the lottery (picks 11-15), he still hasn’t declared for the NBA Draft.
A year ago, the 15th pick in the draft was assured of a 4-year deal valued at $22,513,733. The No. 20 pick was assured of four years for $17,730,606. All first round contracts are four years and the money is guaranteed. Considering he’s so highly regarded for his versatility and energy, Haugh most likely goes in the lottery but it would be shocking if he were to dip below No. 20.
That is generational money. Haugh has to ask himself will he be worth anything close to the same amount if he comes back to Florida for one more year? Expect he will make at least $2 million at Florida if he comes back, but the NBA money is double that.
There is precedent at Florida for coming back. Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer were all three assured of going in the top five picks of the 2006 NBA Draft, but they elected to come back to school. And, this is before there was such a thing as NIL money. They led the Gators to a second straight NCAA title, then declared for the 2007 NBA Draft where Horford was picked third, Brewer seventh and Noah ninth. They sacrificed some money but got that second straight championship.
WHEN RUEBEN SAYS YES, THE FLORIDA ROSTER WILL BE LOADED
It isn’t official yet, but the indicators are that Rueben Chinyelu will return, assuring Todd Golden of a loaded roster. If Haugh were to return, the Gators be the odds-on favorite to win it all, but no matter, Florida start the 2026-27 season ranked among the top three or four teams.
With Condon and Chinyelu returning, Florida will have 12 on scholarship, leaving three to fill since NCAA rules now allow 15. One spot that could be filled immediately is Iowa State sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic. There is plenty of talk that if Haugh goes pro, Momcilovic will be a Gator, but Florida should have vastly improved shooting on the perimeter with or without Momcilovic. A more pressing matter is size for the future. Condon and Chinyelu are doubtful beyond next year and with Micah Handlogten in the portal plus Haugh gone, the size void sees only Viktor Mikic and freshman Jones Lay to fill it.
There is also a need for another point guard. Boogie Fland will have three more years based on the new NCAA ruling, but he’s probably NBA-bound after this season. Denzel Aberdeen is a combo guard who can give solid backup minutes at the point but he will be out of eligibility after next season. Alex Lloyd seems more combo than pure point.
So, the thought here is that Golden brings in two bigs – perhaps one from the portal and maybe one of those young, promising 7-footers from Europe – and a point guard with a couple of years of eligibility from the portal.
SEC HOOPS FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE PORTAL WINDOW CLOSES
ALABAMA: After getting beaten up in the SEC by Florida and in the NCAA Tournament by Michigan – both bigger and stronger on the inside – Nate Oats is going for size, picking up Kentucky’s Brandon Garrison (6-11, 245, JR) and Mississippi State’s Jamarion Davis-Fleming (6-10, 245, FR) in the portal. With Labaron Philon and Latrell Wrightsell gone and Aden Holloway battling drug charges, Oats needs to find some shooters in the worst way. The Crimson Tide has five returning players, none of them starters, and three freshmen. Alabama has five open scholarships.
ARKANSAS: John Calipari is having a rather good spring. Though he loses Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas to the NBA, Billy Richmond III seems intent on coming back along with Maliq Ewin. The Hogs have three stud recruits, one of whom is Jordan Smith Jr., the No. 3 high school prospect in the country. From the portal, Cal has landed Jeremiah Wilkinson from Georgia and Furman rim protector Cooper Bowser. Arkansas has five scholarships to fill. Don’t be shocked if Cal somehow pulls off a coup by landing Dylan Mingo, who de-committed from North Carolina.
AUBURN: The good news for Steven Pearl is that Kevin Overton and Tahaad Pettiford are coming back. The bad news is he needs big guys and so far nobody is taking the Auburn bait. Flory Bidunga, who chose Kansas over Auburn out of high school, took $4 million and his shot blocking defense to Louisville. Seven scholarships are filled, so Pearl has eight openings.
GEORGIA: Mike White must be wondering who to call to undo this black cloud hanging over Georgia basketball. He has four returning players, no high school recruits and right now he’s whiffing in the portal. Somto Cyril has departed for Miami and Jeremiah Wilkinson to Arkansas. White has 11 scholarships to fill and not many folks are beating a path to Athens.
KENTUCKY: Buzzards are circling the basketball offices after Mark Pope whiffed on Tyran Stokes, the nation’s number one high school prospect; Robert Wright III, the stud point guard who chose to return to BYU rather than take Kentucky millions; Aiden Sherrill, the Alabama big man who chose Indiana; Flory Bidunga, the Kansas center who was Big 12 defensive player of the year and now heading to Louisville; and Georgia shooter Jeremiah Wilkinson, who added insult to UK by choosing John Calipari and Arkansas. On top of that, Denzel Aberdeen has returned to Florida, Collin Chandler is off to BYU, Brandon Garrison has departed for Alabama, Jaland Lowe is Georgetown bound and Andrija Jelavic is now a Buckeye.
Mark Pope has four returnees, none of them starters, one high school recruit (Mason Williams), who is ranked the 110th prospect nationally, and a point guard (Zoom Diallo) who is transferring in from Washington. Pope has bags of money and nine scholarships to fill, but right now he’s selling and not many are buying.
LSU: Between graduation and the portal, Will Wade has one returning player and two incoming freshmen. Twelve open scholarships and not a whole lot of movement from the portal so far. The current situation is bleak.
MISSISSIPPI STATE: Chris Jans held on to All-SEC guard Josh Hubbard but three seniors are gone and six players are in the portal. Counting Hubbard, Jans has five returning players and three signees. He’s got eight scholarships to fill from the portal.
MISSOURI: The Tigers lost all three of their point guards and their two best bigs. Dennis Gates got a serviceable power forward in Tennessee transfer Jaylen Carey but he’s not the second coming of Mark Mitchell. A lot of effort was put into landing Santa Clara point guard Christian Hammond, but he picked North Carolina State over Mizzou. Gates has six returning players, three signees and two from the portal. He’s got four open scholarships and needs to spend them on scorers.
OKLAHOMA: The Sooners are rebuilding from the ground up. Five returning players and only one signee. Louisville transfer Khani Rooths is a good defender, but he’s never been a starter. Porter Moser has eight scholarships open and not a lot of interest from the portal so far. He needs size and shooters.
OLE MISS: The situation at Ole Miss is grim. Not LSU grim, but not far off. Among the three returnees is Patton Pinkins, a future star, but he needs a lot of help. Pitt transfer Roman Siulepa is a quality addition, but Chris Beard needs 10 more players from the portal or else a good international haul.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Lamont Paris picked up Texas starter Cameron Heide Wednesday night to go with George Mason transfer Kory Mincy. Mincy is a scoring point who will help make up for the graduation loss of Meechie Johnson. The two returnees combined for six points a game. There is one incoming freshmen so there are 10 scholarships available. The Gamecocks have no size whatsoever.
TENNESSEE: Rick Barnes has been very active in the portal picking up four instant starters, the most recent Notre Dame’s Jalen Haralson, who averaged 16.2 points and 4.0 rebounds as a freshman. He also got Belmont shooter Tyler Lundblade (15.6 per game), Cal point guard Dai Dai Ames (16.9 per game) and rim protector Miles Rubin from Loyola (11.3 points, 7.1 rebounds). The three freshmen are perimeter guys, so the focus from here on out in the portal will be adding more size. Six scholarships are open.
TEXAS: Everything hinges on 7-footer Matas Vokietaitis. If he comes back Texas will be good. If he goes to the NBA Sean Miller has trouble since he’s losing four starters including his three top scorers. The Longhorns return four, signed four and have landed two from the portal including Colorado point Isaiah Johnson (16.9 points per game) and TCU power guy David Punch (14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds). Finding a backup for Vokietaitis and some scoring on the wing will be imperative with the five open scholarships.
TEXAS A&M: All the starters and all the scoring departed either by graduation or the portal, so Bucky McMillan is rebuilding from the ground up. He has four returnees, an incoming freshman and among the two from the portal is K-State transfer PJ Haggerty, who was among the nation’s leading scorers at 23.4 per game. For Bucky Ball to work, McMillan has to find players who can full court press from bell to bell. He’s got eight scholarships to work with and needs help everywhere.
VANDERBILT: Does Tyler Tanner leave for the NBA or does he come back? That’s the big question for Mike Byington, who will be replacing his top six scorers if Tanner bolts. Right now he’s picked late in the first round. If Tanner comes back, Vandy will have seven on scholarship (4 returnees, 3 freshman signees). So far no one has signed on from the portal.
Lots of unanswwered questions