Governor signs order letting state’s colleges allow athletes 5th year of eligibility

Ohio’s higher‑education institutions have been granted a new window of opportunity for their student‑athletes, after the state’s governor signed an executive order this week giving colleges the authority to award a fifth year of eligibility to players who graduated from high school in 2022. The decision, announced on Monday, follows a nationwide conversation about the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic on collegiate sports, and mirrors similar moves by other states that have sought to preserve athletes’ chances to compete and develop.The order allows schools under the Ohio Department of Higher Education to grant an extra season of play to those athletes whose eligibility was effectively curtailed by the pandemic‑related disruptions of the 2020‑2021 academic year. While the decision does not automatically extend eligibility to every athlete, it does give the colleges discretion to evaluate individual circumstances and apply the policy on a case‑by‑case basis..

The governor’s letter to the universities explicitly references the NCAA’s guidelines on medical waivers and redshirt seasons, urging administrators to consider each student’s health, academic progress and athletic contributions.“This is about fairness,” Gov. Mike DeWine told reporters in a brief press briefing at the state capitol. “We want to ensure that the student‑athletes who faced unprecedented obstacles during the last two years are not left behind in their development or their chances to play.” He added that the measure would help preserve the integrity of collegiate competition and support the universities’ broader mission of providing a balanced educational experience.The order came after a flurry of petitions and appeals from student‑athletes across the state..

Many of those who graduated high school in 2022 found their first season of college athletics truncated or canceled altogether, as travel restrictions, limited practice time and conference shutdowns forced programs to suspend play. The NCAA, for its part, has issued a blanket waiver that allows athletes to retain a year of eligibility, but the implementation of that waiver has varied across conferences and institutions, prompting calls for clearer state‑level guidance.Ohio’s universities are now positioned to act swiftly. The policy does not impose a new financial burden on the institutions; rather, it simply extends the time athletes can remain on team rosters and in training programs..

The universities will need to manage the logistical implications—such as scholarship allocations, roster sizes and academic advising—yet the executive order gives them the flexibility to adapt within existing frameworks. Many schools have already begun drafting internal guidelines to determine how to allocate the extra year fairly among athletes who might have been affected by the pandemic, as well as those who had already completed a full four years of eligibility.The decision has been welcomed by student‑athlete advocacy groups that argue that the pandemic has left a lasting legacy on the sporting landscape. “Athletes were put on a short leash when the pandemic hit,” said Jordan Lee, director of the Ohio Collegiate Athlete Alliance..

“They deserve a chance to finish what they started, to earn the accolades and the experience that can translate into professional or career opportunities. This executive order is a step in the right direction.” Lee also highlighted that the policy could reduce the pressure on athletes to make rapid decisions about transferring or turning professional prematurely.Opposition voices are fewer, but not absent. Some campus administrators worry that the extra year could create complications in scholarship budgets, especially for sports that operate on a tight financial schedule..

The Ohio Department of Higher Education has assured that schools can request adjustments to funding if the additional eligibility season significantly strains their budgets. Furthermore, the NCAA’s own stance has been to allow schools to maintain their scholarship limits, but the state’s order clarifies the legal framework within which Ohio colleges must operate.The timing of the order is notable. It coincides with the lead‑up to the next NCAA Division I and II championships, where teams will be assembling rosters for the upcoming fall season..

Many Ohio schools—such as the Ohio State Buckeyes, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats and the Miami RedHawks—have already announced plans to keep senior athletes on the roster for an additional year. In some cases, the extra season could be a decisive factor in securing conference titles or deep playoff runs. The policy may also have implications for recruiting, as coaches can now appeal to prospective athletes with the promise of a longer collegiate tenure.While the order specifically targets athletes who graduated in 2022, the policy’s language is broad enough that schools could potentially extend the option to other cohorts affected by the pandemic, such as those who started in 2020..

The executive order’s wording leaves room for interpretation, which could lead to variations in how the policy is applied across the state’s athletic programs. Some schools have already signaled that they will keep the policy open for future use, citing the unpredictable nature of public health emergencies and the possibility of further disruptions.The broader question of how states will manage collegiate athletics in the post‑pandemic era remains open. Ohio’s decision reflects a growing trend of state governments stepping in to provide clarity and stability to a sector that has historically been governed primarily by national bodies such as the NCAA..

By providing a clear legal framework, the state hopes to protect student‑athletes from the uncertainty that has plagued collegiate sports during recent years, while preserving the competitive integrity of Ohio’s college programs.As the new academic year begins, the impact of the order will unfold in the locker rooms, on the courts and in the lecture halls. Coaches will grapple with roster construction, athletes will weigh their options, and administrators will navigate the practicalities of scholarship allocations. For the student‑athletes who have already endured the upheavals of the pandemic, the possibility of a fifth year offers a chance to finish their college careers on their own terms, to achieve the milestones they set for themselves and to pursue the professional opportunities they aspire to..

Whether the policy will ultimately prove successful remains to be seen, but it marks a significant step toward rectifying the disruptions that have affected a generation of student‑athletes in Ohio..