"The NCAA Division I Board of Directors has approved a waiver that will
allow certain student-athletes from non-NCAA institutions such as NAIA programs and junior colleges to compete in the 2025-26 academic year, even if they would have otherwise exhausted their eligibility during 2024-25.
The decision, announced in December 2024 and detailed in a Q&A document released Thursday, applies specifically to athletes who spent at least one season competing at a non-NCAA institution such as a junior college (JUCO), NAIA program, or international institution. To qualify, athletes must meet all remaining eligibility requirements, including progress toward degree, full-time enrollment, and the standard five-year eligibility clock."