CLEMSON — At next month’s meeting, the NCAA Division I Cabinet will consider voting for an age-based eligibility model.

If adopted, the age-based eligibility model would replace current eligibility rules in Division I, instead allowing student-athletes up to five years of competition within their chosen sport during a five-year window that begins the academic year following their high school graduation or their 19th birthday, whichever occurs first.

Currently, student-athletes have four competitive years to play in a five-year span.

What does this mean exactly, and how can it help in the current landscape of college athletics?

Under the age-based model, waivers would no longer be available to extend eligibility, with exceptions for pregnancy, official religious missions and active-duty military service, provided the student-athlete does not participate in organized competition.

Sport-specific exceptions and grace periods are not expected.

How does this affect Clemson for next season?

In an effort to provide clear and predictable guidelines and make a transition to the model as seamless as possible, the NCAA Cabinet outlined the expected implementation process, should the change be adopted. Specifically, the implementation options currently contemplated include:

• Student-athletes whose fourth season of collegiate eligibility was completed by spring 2026: No additional eligibility.
• Currently enrolled student-athletes with eligibility remaining after the 2025-26 academic year: Flexibility for schools to apply the age-based model or continue with the previous eligibility rules (four seasons to compete with five total years of eligibility), whichever is most beneficial to that individual.
• Prospects expected to graduate from high school in spring 2027: Age-based model only.
• Prospects expected to graduate from high school in spring 2026, regardless of planned enrollment date: Age-based model only.
• Prospects who graduated prior to spring 2026 and have not enrolled: The NCAA Eligibility Center will review the prospect’s individual circumstances and apply the age-based model or existing delayed enrollment eligibility rules, whichever is most beneficial to that individual.

There are only five true seniors, under the previous eligibility rules, on Clemson’s 2026 roster. Clemson can apply for the age-based model or continue with four seasons to compete with five total years of eligibility, whichever is most beneficial to that individual player.

In other words, those seniors will have the opportunity to stay for one more season of college football, if they chose to do so. Those five players are cornerback Elliott Washington II, safety Ronan Hanafin, tight end Olsen Patt-Henry, defensive end Will Heldt and center Harris Sewell.

Four of the five are projected starters this season. Hanafin was a starter last season and will be competing for a starting job again this year.

Of course, Heldt, who is projected as a first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, could have the option of coming back another season if he so chooses. The same goes for Washington, who many believe could have an All-American-type-season for the Tigers this season.

Back in the spring, new offensive coordinator Chad Morris compared Patt-Henry to former Clemson great Dwayne Allen, saying he believes he can thrive in his offense. Then there is Sewell who will have the opportunity to be a two-year starter for Morris at center.

Of course, the biggest question is former juco wide receiver Tristan Smith, who is in the process of trying to get an extra year of eligibility. He spent the first two years of his career playing at the JUCO level before moving to an FBS school — Southeast Missouri State. He then transferred to Clemson for the 2024 season.

Smith’s waiver for an extra year was denied by the NCAA late last year, but he has since filed suit in Pickens County, and his case is scheduled to be heard next month. Until then, he is allowed to take part in all team activities.

The 6-foot-5 wide receiver suffered a high ankle sprain in the first half of spring practice earlier this year and had tightrope surgery. If granted eligibility, Smith is expected to be available when the Tigers start fall camp at the end of July.

For schools with current student-athletes who may be eligible for hardship waivers or extensions of eligibility, the NCAA Cabinet indicated that the deadline to submit any waiver requests to NCAA staff is July 31. After that date, waivers would no longer be available for current student-athletes or prospects.