NCAA to Vote on Transfer Waiver in May

A proposal up for consideration by the NCAA Division I Council that would allow all student-athletes to transfer once without being required to sit out a season could be voted on as early as May.

First reported by D1 Baseball’s Kendall Rogers, the NCAA D I Council will reportedly discuss the proposal later this month, and is expected to vote on it by May 20.

SOURCES: The @NCAA Division I Council will discuss the implementation of a one-time transfer waiver on April 24. The Council will not vote on it that day, but a vote IS expected to take place on May 20. Told the measure is expected to pass and would immediately apply. Stay tuned.

— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) April 10, 2020

The proposed policy shift would extend the immediate transfer ability to players in all sports, including baseball, basketball, football and men’s hockey, where immediate transfers are currently prohibited. To be eligible for a transfer waiver, student-athletes must:

• Receive a transfer release from their previous school
• Leave their previous school academically eligible for competition
• Maintain their academic progress at the new school and
• Leave under no disciplinary suspension.

MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher, who chairs the NCAA working group overseeing the transfer proposal, told Stadium that a vote would be forthcoming at the council’s next meeting — but that no decisions on the matter have been made.

Related: NCAA Working Group Developing One-Time Transfer Proposal

If the measure is approved in May, it could become effective immediately according to ESPN. If so, most of the 746 men’s basketball student-athletes currently in the transfer portal could be eligible to play for a new institution by the 2020-21 season.