Under the new guidelines, multi-time transfers will be eligible to play immediately if they remain in good standing and meet academic eligibility and progress-toward-degree requirements. This change eliminates the previous requirement for second-time transfers to sit out a year in residence.
The decision to grant immediate eligibility to multi-time transfers comes after pressure from lawsuits and calls for reform in the NCAA’s transfer rules. In recent months, several high-profile cases have challenged the NCAA’s restrictions on player movement, including a lawsuit filed by West Virginia basketball player RaeQuan Battle, who was a third-time transfer. Battle went on to play 22 games for the Mountaineers after the NCAA granted him a temporary waiver.
In addition to the eligibility decision, the NCAA Division I Board also passed new rules allowing universities to help athletes find NIL contracts. Under these new guidelines, universities can refer players to NIL collectives without penalty. Athletes will be required to report NIL deals within 30 days of receiving them. The rules still forbid pay-for-play compensation and direct payment from schools.
