Governor DeWine signs executive order addressing college athlete eligibility

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Executive Order 2026-04D which gives Ohio’s public and private colleges and universities the option to allow all otherwise eligible student-athletes from the high school class of 2022 to compete despite the NCAA’s current interpretation of its new eligibility rule.

In June, the NCAA adopted a new eligibility model, giving all otherwise eligible student-athletes up to five years of competition. The eligibility model starts an athlete's five-year eligibility clock the academic year after they turn 19 or when they first enroll full-time in college, whichever comes first. Under the NCAA’s implementation guidance, however, student-athletes who graduated from high school in 2022 and have already completed four seasons of competition are denied a fifth season.

"When the rules change, fairness has to remain part of the equation," said Governor DeWine. "We want Ohio's student-athletes to have the same opportunity as student-athletes in other states." 

"I commend Governor DeWine's leadership on fairness in college sports," said Lt. Governor Jim Tressel. "It's important we do not deprive our current student-athletes of the same opportunities enjoyed by their peers.”

Today's executive order gives Ohio institutions of higher education the authority to decline to uphold the NCAA's restriction against all otherwise eligible student-athletes who graduated high school in 2022 while legal challenges proceed.

The order follows actions Governor DeWine took in 2021 and 2024 as college athletics rules changed, including an executive order addressing student-athletes’ ability to earn compensation for the use of their name, image, and likeness.

Student-athletes in Ohio and many other states have challenged the NCAA's age-based eligibility limitations, including in Hamilton County (Borovicanin v. Natl. Collegiate Athletic Assn.).