Just read House v NCAA findings and fallout . The new provisions from this revolutionary court case require, inter alia, that Division 1 football roster size be capped at 105 , and that every athlete on the roster can receive up to a full scholarship. In the past FBS teams could have only 85 scholarship players, but the roster , which averaged about 130, was not limited or capped . So walk-ons added around 45 non- scholarship players to the 85 on scholarship to round out the roster. These walk-ons hoped to eventually get a scholarship , but in reality few did . Basically the walk-ons provided a Scout Team without a guarantee of the player getting anything in return.
Now every FBS roster is to be capped at 105 athletes. That's a reduction of 25 from the current average of 130 . Every one of those 105 roster spots is entitled to receive a scholarship; however, teams might not offer all 105 a scholarship . They could still go with 85 scholarships and have 20 walk ons within their 105 -- or whatever mix they choose not to exceed 105, It's their choice . However if the school signs up for revenue sharing they must fully fill all roster spots with scholarship athletes -- not only for football but all sports. Another subject .
What is the impact? Well this year these FBS teams , which on average have carried 130 guys on the roster , will have to cut back to 105. Many of those who were hanging on as walk-ons at a Power 4 school entered the transfer portal this year hoping to find a scholarship home elsewhere --like a Group of 5 team perhaps. ( Over 3000 FBS players entered the portal this year -- or about 23 per team on average . Last I saw on ON3 62% found a new home) I read that the SEC has decided to stay at 85 scholarships this year -- their choice of course.. Beyond the 85 they can have 20 more players ( walk-ons) on their roster. That's it! Some coaches ( K Smart for one) have advanced the idea of having a practice squad of some sort to augment the 105 roster players, but for now they have to live with 105. The loss of 25 players ( on average) will adversely impact practice sessions as the players available to model the upcoming opposition's offense and defense ( aka traditional Scout Team ) during practice would be significantly reduced .
I have not seen anything official or otherwise which addresses the 3 FBS service academies under this new system . Some say SAs are exempt from House fall out , but is there some possibility that the NCAA or their respective conferences could limit the football team's roster to 105 players as per the other conference schools? Of course these academy athletes are not on a football scholarship per se. They enjoy a taxpayer funded appointment enroute to commissioning and a five year service obligation in return . But things have changed . In the past when FBS teams had no roster cap they ignored the 165 - 175 players on the USMA football September roster - let alone our USMAPS "redshirts". Now with a 105 FBS roster cap will that still be the case? Seems like there is a lot to play out with regard to the "new system" -- very fuzzy. Per chance has GBK addressed with the AD or Coach Monken ? Thank you gents .
