WHAT CHANGED IN COLLEGE RECRUITING FOR 2026?
“Times and conditions change so rapidly that we must keep our aim constantly focused on the future.” — Walt Disney
Everybody means well, we all know that. If your brother who played D2 basketball in the 90s, or your coworker whose daughter played D1 LAX in 2016 is giving you or your student-athlete advice, unsolicited or not, they mean well and they are just trying to help.
But reality is this: If your recruiting advice is from before 2025... maybe even from before 2026... some of it is now largely out of date.
Understand that everything with the NCAA is in flux. What is a "rule" today in October of 2026 might not even be accurate in 2027, as the NCAA continues to adjust and evolve. This is all happening quickly and in real time.
Five rule changes reshaped how high school athletes get to college, and most families haven't heard about them yet.
Thank you to everyone who came to the student-athlete session at the San Fernando Valley Catholic School College Fair. This post covers the key points from the talk, so you can come back to them and share them with your athlete. The people in the stories are made up. The rules are real.
1. Roster limits replaced scholarship limits
Division I schools that opted into the House v. NCAA settlement no longer have caps on scholarships. They have caps on how many players can be on the team.
SportD1 roster limitFootball105Baseball34Soccer28Softball25Basketball15
Meet Ben. A few years ago, Ben would have been a preferred walk-on at a mid-major D1 program. Now the roster is capped, and the coach gives that spot to a junior from the transfer portal. Ben takes a strong D2 offer and starts as a freshman.
The takeaway: your competition isn't just other high school seniors anymore who are your own age and played against high school competition. Instead, it is largely college transfers with proven results and experience against real college athletes.
2. The five-year clock
As of right now...
In June 2026, the NCAA approved a new eligibility rule: five seasons of competition in five years. The clock starts when an athlete enrolls full-time in college, or in the school year after they turn 19, whichever comes first. Division 2 adopted a matching rule.
Meet Jordan and Tyler. Both graduate in June 2027, and both take a postgraduate (PG) year at a prep school to get bigger before college.
Jordan is young for his grade and turns 19 in March 2028. His clock hasn't started during the PG year, so he arrives at college with all 5 seasons.
Tyler is old for his grade and turned 19 in July 2027. His clock started during the PG year, so he arrives with 4 seasons left.
Same class, same decision, one season apart.
Plan around age, not just enrollment.
No more redshirts or medical waivers. The only exceptions now are a religious mission, pregnancy, and active military service. If an athlete tears an ACL as a sophomore, that year still counts. Full-time junior college enrollment starts the clock too.
Birthdays near the start of a school year can fall either way, so please confirm your athlete's exact date with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Don't get caught off guard with something that could have been avoided.
3. The National Letter of Intent is gone
The NCAA ended the National Letter of Intent program. Recruits now commit by signing the specific school's own specific athletic scholarship agreement. Once it's signed, other coaches must stop recruiting the athlete.
Meet Sofia. Her family is planning a signing-day party for her National Letter of Intent. There isn't one anymore. The document that matters now is the school's agreement, so read it closely before signing. A couple example questions to ask:
How much aid, and for how many years?
What happens if I get hurt?
What happens if the coach leaves?
Is any NIL or revenue-sharing money included, and is it in writing?
4. NIL and money
Athletes can now earn money from their name, image and likeness (NIL), and Division I schools can pay athletes directly through revenue sharing. The rules depend on where the athlete is, in high school or in college.
California is a state at the forefront of High School NIL.
Meet Marcus. He's a HS junior who gets $800 from a local car wash to post about the car wash on Instagram. Great, except he posts in his school jersey, which breaks California high school rules. And also, if he goes D1, he'll have to report the deal when he enrolls.
NIL in high school (California): allowed, but no school uniform, logo or facilities in the promotion, and no pay tied to performance (the car wash cannot tell Marcus they will give him more money if he wins CIF in shot put, etc). Confirm the details with your school's athletic director or CIF.
Going D1? Be ready to report NIL deals of $600 or more signed after the start of junior year.
In college: schools in the House settlement can share roughly $20.5 million a year with their athletes.
This is really important and it is where families could get fleeced: Before signing any NIL deal, talk to someone who knows the rules. MAKE SURE everything is in writing.
5. Contact dates depend on your sport
When Division I coaches can start talking to recruits is different for every sport. Same family, different sports, different calendars.
Emma plays women's lacrosse. D1 coaches can start recruiting conversations on September 1 of junior year at 12 p.m. Eastern. That's 9 a.m. in California, not midnight.
Her twin brother plays baseball. D1 coaches can start calling and texting on August 1 before junior year. Offers and visits open September 1 of junior year.
Look up your own sport's calendar instead of going by what worked for a friend.
Athletes can always email coaches first, even before coaches are allowed to reply.
D2, D3 and NAIA rules are generally more open.
Many roads lead to D1
Starting your journey as a D1 freshman is only one of the ways in. Where you start isn't where you have to finish, so pick a school you'd love even if you never transfer.
Paths
Established: Junior college to D1
Low visibility, or maybe needed time for late bloomers and to raise grades; California community colleges (CCCAA) are close to home
Fastest Growing: D2 or NAIA to D1
Play as a freshman or soph, put up numbers, then enter the transfer portal
D3 to D1 - Rare, but it does happen for standout players
Less common
Postgrad (PG) year
An extra year at a prep school after graduation; may start the five-year clock
Watch the clock
Shrinking: Preferred walk-on
Still exists, but roster limits squeezed these spots
Your VERY GENERAL timeline by grade
Start early. Grades count from the first day of freshman year. Biggest thing is Pro-Activity.
9th
Take the right core courses. Create a free NCAA Eligibility Center profile. Play, improve and have fun. Every school with your sport should be viewed right now as your Top Choice.
10th
Research schools at every level. Start a highlight video. Clean up social media. Showcases and camps. Start to research career paths.
11th
Learn your sport's contact dates. Email coaches yourself. Visit campuses. D1 and D2 prospects upgrade to an Eligibility Center certification account. More realistic showcases and camps. Hone in on major(s) and investigate.
12th
Compare offers and read the scholarship agreement. Report NIL deals if going D1. Apply and file the FAFSA on time. Showcases and camps (especially if they are for Seniors Only).
The bottom line
The rules changed, but the fundamentals didn't: be honest about how you match up, stay open to every level, keep your grades up, and choose a school you'd be happy at even if sports ended tomorrow. Hope is not a strategy. Preparation is.
Every family's path looks different. If you'd like a second set of eyes on your athlete's plan, reach us here on the site under CONTACT.
