Ohio Order Allows Fifth Year of Eligibility for Some College Athletes
Ohio's governor has signed an executive order allowing state colleges to grant a fifth year of eligibility to athletes who graduated from high school in 2022, diverging from NCAA eligibility rules.
Odessa Midland, TX, October 13, 2026 —
Ohio’s governor has signed an executive order allowing state colleges to grant a fifth year of eligibility to athletes who graduated from high school in 2022. The move diverges from NCAA eligibility rules, according to the available information.
The order concerns a specific group of athletes and gives state colleges permission to award an additional year of eligibility. The information provided does not say whether any college has granted, or plans to grant, a fifth year to an athlete under the order.
Key details about the action were not provided, including the governor’s name, when the order was signed, its effective date and the reasoning behind it. The scope is also unclear: no sports, institutions or individual athletes are identified.
The summary does not describe how the order interacts with NCAA rules beyond noting that it diverges from them. It does not specify whether the NCAA has responded, whether the order could be challenged, or what requirements colleges would apply when considering an additional year.
As described, the order gives Ohio state colleges an option rather than confirming that athletes will receive another season. Further details about its implementation and the response from colleges or the NCAA were not included in the information available.
Story summarized from the original created by EDDIE PELLS and ALANIS THAMES, Associated Press on www.yourbasin.com, see more information here.
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