NCAA moving to allow all transfers immediate eligibility

Ralph D. Russo

The NCAA is moving toward allowing all Division I athletes to transfer one time without sitting out a season of competition.

A plan to change the waiver process is expected to be presented to the Division I Council in April.

If adopted, new criteria would go into effect for the 2020-21 academic year.

The NCAA’s announcement Tuesday comes a day after the Atlantic Coast Conference

became the second Power Five conference to publicly support the so-called on-time exception for all transfers.

Currently, football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s hockey and baseball players must sit out one season after transferring.

Other NCAA Division I athletes are permitted a onetime exception to be immediately eligible for competition after transferring.

The NCAA adjusted waiver criteria two years ago to give more athletes the chance to become immediately eligible, but that has led to complaints about inconsistency in the process.

“The current system is unsustainable. Working group members believe it’s time to bring our transfer rules more in line with today’s college landscape,” said Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher, who is the chairman of the transfer working group.

“This concept provides a uniform approach that is understandable, predictable and objective. Most importantly, it benefits students.”

If the transfer working group’s latest concept is adopted, any athlete would be granted immediate eligibility after a transfer if four criteria are met:

■ Receive a transfer release from the previous school.

■ Leave the previous school academically eligible.

■ Maintain academic progress at the new school.

■ Leave under no disciplinary suspension.