CSC recommended student-athlete class year designations for 2026-27

Dear CSC Members,

As many of you are aware, the recent NCAA age-based eligibility changes have created new questions surrounding the most appropriate way to identify student-athlete class standing across college athletics communications, creative content and statistical records.

One of the core expectations of College Sports Communicators (CSC) is to provide leadership and a collective voice for our profession when issues such as this emerge. While recognizing that institutions and conferences ultimately determine their own communications practices, the CSC Executive Board believes it is important to offer guidance that provides the opportunity for clarity, consistency and collaboration across college sports.

Following conversations with communications and creative leaders across the membership, NCAA representatives, members of the compliance community and several media partners, CSC recommends that communications and creative teams use the following class year designations for the 2026-27 academic year:

• Fr.
• So.
• Jr.
• Sr.
• 5th

In addition to providing greater consistency across institutional communications and creative staffs, this recommendation has the support of major college sports television partners and helps maintain much-needed uniformity in the CSC Academic All-America® program—two important considerations as we navigate this period of transition together.

We recognize that no single solution perfectly addresses every student-athlete's individual circumstance under the evolving eligibility landscape. This recommendation is intended to provide a practical, consistent approach for one academic year while the NCAA national office continues its review of eligibility-related designations and longer-term solutions. Throughout the upcoming academic year, CSC will continue engaging with the NCAA and our membership to evaluate future approaches.

I want to extend my appreciation to the many voices that were involved in this recommendation, in particular the Division I conference communications leads and my teammates on the CSC Executive Board. As with many changes impacting our profession, collaboration and open dialogue continues to be
a necessary priority for any effective evolution.

Thank you for your continued leadership and commitment to serving college sports and your belief in the impact and the potential of CSC.

Sincerely,
Matt Panto
2026-27 President, College Sports Communicators