The NCAA Division I Board has approved legislation to allow instant eligibility for all multi-time transfers, the organization announced Monday. The board’s approval was the final step in adopting the new rules after the Division I Council voted in favor of the changes last week. The new guidelines go into effect immediately.
The group had previously approved a blanket waiver for one-time transfers but held firm in requiring second-time transfers to sit out a year in residence. Under the new guidelines, transfers will have to remain in good standing, meeting academic eligibility and progress-toward-degree requirements in order to receive immediate eligibility. The rules don’t become official until they are ratified by the Division I Board, which will meet on Monday.
The ruling does not apply to graduate transfers, which were always granted immediate eligibility at new institutions.
The decision comes months after a federal injunction led to a temporary halt on NCAA rules requiring multi-time transfers to sit out a season, making all transfers immediately eligible. The pair of lawsuits leading to the decision were filed by West Virginia basketball player RaeQuan Battle and attorney generals from seven states. Battle, a third-time transfer, went on to play 22 games for the Mountaineers.
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