H.R. 9302: Student Athlete Act of 2026

This bill would set federal rules for college athletes’ eligibility and transfer rights, and it would override conflicting NCAA rules and state laws.

What it would change

• Five-year eligibility limit: A student athlete would have 5 consecutive years to compete in intercollegiate athletics, no matter whether they are injured or experience other events. This would replace any NCAA rule that allows for different timing or extra eligibility in some situations.
• Transfer portal rules: The NCAA would be required to set rules for the transfer portal, including the periods when an athlete may officially tell their school they intend to transfer.
• One-year ineligibility after transferring: In general, a student athlete who transfers schools would be ineligible to compete in NCAA athletics for the rest of the academic year in which they entered the transfer portal. The bill defines that academic year as starting at the fall semester and ending after the school’s final summer session.
• First transfer exception: This one-year ineligibility rule would not apply to a student athlete’s first transfer from one college to another.
• Overriding NCAA transfer rules: Any NCAA rule on transfer eligibility that exists when the bill becomes law would be superseded by this bill.
• Antitrust protection for transfer rules: The bill says the NCAA may establish transfer portal rules under this section even if antitrust law would otherwise apply, specifically referring to the Sherman Act.

Scholarship and aid protections

• Scholarship commitments: Colleges would generally have to honor the original grant-in-aid commitment they made to a student athlete.
• After a transfer: If a student athlete transfers, the old school would no longer be bound by that scholarship commitment, but the new school would be bound by it.
• Good standing exception: A school could still revoke aid if the athlete does not remain in good standing under the school’s standards or code of conduct.

State law

The bill would prevent states or local governments from passing or enforcing laws or rules that conflict with this act, or that limit the rights of student athletes, the NCAA, conferences, or colleges under the act.

Relevant Companies

None found