AAC eliminates intraconference transfer policy

The American Athletic Conference has eliminated its intraconference transfer policy and will allow student-athletes to transfer between AAC schools without losing a year of eligibility, the conference announced Tuesday.

The conference's athletic directors unanimously reached the decision, which is effective immediately. The AAC noted it will now be solely governed by the NCAA's transfer policies in all sports.

AAC athletes were previously permitted to transfer within the conference but could not become eligible until serving one academic year in residence at their new institution. Athletes also lost a year of eligibility during that time.

"This is an important decision that is in the best interests of our student-athletes," AAC commissioner Mike Aresco said. "It will align the conference's position on transfers with the expected significant change to the NCAA policy."

NCAA leadership is expected to vote this week on a one-time transfer rule that would allow eligible athletes to transfer once without having to sit out a year.

The AAC joins the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Mid-American Conference as Division I conferences that recently made similar decisions regarding intraconference transfers.