DeWine Signed Order Bypassing NCAA Eligibility Rules

Governor Mike DeWine authorized Ohio colleges to ignore specific NCAA eligibility restrictions for athletes who graduated in 2022.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Secondary Education

DeWine Signed Order Bypassing NCAA Eligibility Rules

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Should your state government intervene to override national athletic eligibility rules for local college athletes?

Governor Mike DeWine signed Executive Order 2026-04D to allow Ohio colleges to bypass NCAA eligibility caps for the class of 2022. The directive empowers universities to grant a fifth season of competition to student-athletes regardless of current NCAA guidance.

Why it matters

The order serves to protect Ohio student-athletes from facing inconsistent administrative standards. It provides institutions with the flexibility to determine athlete participation while related litigation proceeds in the state courts.

Executive Order 2026-04D applies specifically to student-athletes who graduated high school in 2022. While the NCAA model generally provides up to five years of competition, current rollout guidance denies a fifth season to this specific cohort.

The players

Mike DeWine

Mike DeWine is the Governor of Ohio who issued the executive order regarding collegiate athletic eligibility.

National Collegiate Athletic Association

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the governing body that manages athletic programs for colleges and universities across the United States.

The details

University administrators in Ohio are now authorized to decline the enforcement of NCAA age-based restrictions at their own discretion. This move follows an ongoing legal challenge filed in Hamilton County, known as Borovicanin v. National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The executive order was signed by Governor Mike DeWine on October 13, 2026.
The NCAA adopted its new eligibility model in June 2026.
The high school graduation class affected by the restrictions finished school in 2022.

Culture Shift

The order marks a departure from standard institutional deference to national athletic governing bodies. It reflects a broader shift toward state-level intervention in collegiate sports policies as administrative standards face increasing scrutiny.

Student-athletes from the 2022 graduating class at Ohio colleges may now be eligible for an additional season of participation. Individuals should contact their university athletic departments to determine how local administrators are applying the new order.

The takeaway

This policy change offers a potential extension for collegiate careers that were previously restricted by national guidelines. Students impacted by these eligibility rules should closely monitor future university communications regarding their participation status.