In a significant move for college athletics, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors has approved a waiver that grants an additional year of eligibility to former junior college transfers. This decision, which could benefit many athletes, comes in light of Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia‘s recent legal battles regarding NCAA eligibility rules.
On Monday, the NCAA announced that athletes who previously “competed at a non-NCAA school for one or more years” can now have their eligibility extended to the 2025-26 season. This waiver is particularly relevant for former junior college players like Pavia, who would have otherwise exhausted their NCAA eligibility after the 2024-25 season. The ruling allows Pavia not only to continue his career but also opens up similar opportunities for many others in college sports.
This decision follows a recent federal judge’s injunction that temporarily allowed Pavia to seek an additional year of eligibility, challenging NCAA rules that counted junior college playing time against total NCAA eligibility. Pavia’s claim was that such regulations were unfair and limited athletes’ chances to profit from their name, image, and likeness.
The NCAA’s memo indicates that this waiver does not encompass all junior college players but is limited to those who would have been eligible to play this upcoming year. Following the waiver announcement, athletes like Florida State wide receiver Malik Benson, who thought he had used his last year of eligibility, expressed excitement about the renewed chance to play. Benson shared his intention to enter the NCAA transfer portal, feeling “blessed” to have another opportunity.
As the Vanderbilt Commodores prepare for their first bowl game since 2018 against Georgia Tech on December 27, the landscape of NCAA athletics is shifting. With hundreds of junior college athletes potentially set to benefit from this blanket waiver, college sports may see a notable change in roster compositions and team dynamics.
