NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Division I men’s basketball programs will soon have more flexibility in their exhibition games, as the NCAA has approved a new rule that allows teams to participate in two exhibitions against any four-year institutions without the previous requirement of donating proceeds to charity. This adjustment was ratified during the NCAA convention and is set to come into effect for the 2025-26 season.

The revised regulations mean that schools will be able to determine how they wish to allocate the revenue generated from these exhibition games. Furthermore, the earlier requirement mandating that preseason practice scrimmages occur without official scoring and in private has been removed, creating an opportunity for more engagement and competition. Notably, last October, Memphis conducted men’s and women’s games against North Carolina and the reigning national champion South Carolina, where the proceeds were directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

In a related development, the men’s basketball oversight committee has made adjustments to the recruiting calendar. With the NCAA College Basketball Academy not occurring this summer, Division I coaches will have designated evaluation periods on July 10-13 and July 17-20. During these windows, coaches can assess prospects at NCAA-sanctioned events from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additionally, in agreement with the National Basketball Coaches Association, a quiet period has been established from July 28-31, during which coaches are permitted to host camps and evaluate prospects. The dates of August 4-5 have now been designated as a dead period where no recruiting activities can take place.

In another significant move, the Division I Council has introduced new criteria for schools in Division II and III seeking to transition to Division I. To advance, these schools must comply with defined academic standards, which will include an academic review alongside a self-study mandated by the NCAA. These criteria also encompass new financial aid regulations aimed at providing support to athletes.

The reclassification timeline has been reduced to three years for Division II institutions and four years for Division III institutions. Schools currently navigating the transition may now adopt this accelerated timeline by fulfilling the established criteria.

These changes reflect a shift towards greater autonomy for Division I programs and a more structured path for lower divisions to elevate their status within NCAA basketball.