Josh Hubbard can play 5 seasons at Mississippi State after new NCAA eligibility rule
· Yahoo Sports
STARKVILLE — An NCAA rule change means that star Josh Hubbard has two years left, instead of one, to play for Mississippi State basketball.
The NCAA approved a new eligibility model on June 23 that gives athletes five years of eligibility instead of four. It is expected to be finalized on June 24.
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It uproots the NCAA's current eligibility system that has become increasingly convoluted with redshirts, waivers and lawsuits. The new rule, which the NCAA calls the "age-based eligibility model," would start an athlete's five-year eligibility clock upon initial full-time enrollment or at the beginning of the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever occurs earlier. Redshirts and waivers would be eliminated.
There are caveats on who will get five years of eligibility, but for Mississippi State that means Hubbard can play two more seasons if he wants to.
Hubbard will be a senior for the 2026-27 season and is 195 points away from breaking the program scoring record. The Madison native has led the Bulldogs in scoring in all three of his seasons but has not been viewed as an NBA draft prospect.
There are more MSU stars in other sports that will be impacted too, depending on their draft profiles, like Kamario Taylor, Jacob Parker and Madison Francis.
Kevin Milewski could be first Mississippi State player impacted
The 2026 MLB Draft starts July 11 where college baseball players will make decisions to sign or stay. Mississippi State baseball catcher Kevin Milewski could have the toughest decision on the team after a great finish to his 2026 junior season.
The new five years of eligibility would give Milewski two years left in college instead of one. That means he'd have leverage in the 2026 draft and the 2027 draft to return to college instead of signing an MLB contract. Generally, prospects without college eligibility are drafted later because they lose that leverage.
The new NCAA eligibility rule won't apply to these players
Athletes who just completed their final year of eligibility in 2026 will not be granted a fifth year.
It almost certainly will be challenged legally. One attorney, Darren Heitner, already confirmed on social media on June 23 that he'll be filing lawsuits on behalf of some college basketball players who completed their fourth seasons in 2026.
So, barring any changes — from the NCAA or in court — Mississippi State baseball players like Bryce Chance, Reed Stallman, Drew Wyers and Ben Davis will not be getting an extra year.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: NCAA eligibility rule change impact on Mississippi State athletes