BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — College Sports Communicators – the professional organization for collegiate athletics communications and media personnel – released clarification and guidance to identify student-athlete class standing across college athletics communications, creative content and statistical records due to the recent National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) age-based eligibility changes.
The organizations’ intent is 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.
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.
The Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA), Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) and Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) will utilize this recommendation for the 2026-27 academic year.
