How NCAA Roster Cap Impacts Students

Kelby Chichester

As national signing day approaches, college recruits and coaches are making critical decisions without clear guidance on how a pending antitrust settlement may reshape Division I athletics. The proposed $2.8 billion House v. NCAA settlement could cut thousands of roster spots by next year, leaving some athletes without previously promised scholarships. 

In preparation for the settlement’s potential approval, college sports leaders are overhauling numerous regulations to comply with its terms. A key provision of the agreement would impose new limits on roster sizes across all NCAA-sponsored Division I sports, resulting in at least 4,739 fewer opportunities for student-athletes. 

If implemented, the new restrictions would shrink the maximum roster size for 19 of the 43 NCAA sports, reducing them below current averages. Sports such as football, baseball, and women’s soccer are expected to experience the most significant cuts. This uncertainty has already forced several coaches to withdraw verbal scholarship offers, leaving many recruits in difficult positions as they navigate their futures. 

Football, baseball, and women’s soccer programs may see significant reductions in their Division I rosters, with each sport set to lose more than 1,000 athletes, according to NCAA data. While some sports could see an increase in roster spots if schools expand their teams, the overall reduction across Division I could reach nearly 10,000 positions if current roster sizes remain unchanged. 

Football programs will be hit the hardest, with average FBS roster sizes dropping from 121 to a maximum of 105 players. This has sparked concerns among coaches regarding player safety and the impact on walk-on athletes. 

Baseball will also face steep cuts, with nearly one in five roster spots disappearing by the 2025-26 season. Last spring, teams averaged 41.9 players, but under the new limits, rosters will be capped at 34. Although some players may benefit from increased scholarship funding, the overall reduction in opportunities is expected to be significant. 

Women’s soccer teams will also be affected, with rosters shrinking by more than 10 percent. The average team size of 31.2 players will be reduced to a maximum of 28, further limiting opportunities for aspiring collegiate athletes. 

Despite the uncertainty, some coaches are focusing on what they can control. Mount St. Mary’s University Track and Field Coach, Jay Philips, emphasized the importance of adaptability and staying true to a program’s core mission. "My thoughts, as is typical, remain on what I can impact to help the Mount and our program thrive in our mission,"

Philips said. "We’re forming men and women and we’re trying to run fast, throw far, and jump high and far; that doesn’t change. No one knows exactly how this will play out over the next decade, but there are ways to prepare ourselves for uncertainty.”

He added, “We have a north star, an amazing coaching staff, and a phenomenal community of men and women on the team. Those are huge stabilizing forces for sustained success through uncertainty. There will be changes, tension points, but there are tension points now and changes every year. At some point, everything changes and nothing changes." 

With more scholarships and larger rosters, academic eligibility is under increased scrutiny. The NCAA requires student-athletes to meet specific academic standards, including a minimum Core GPA and completion of 16 NCAA-approved Core Courses. 

Failing to meet these requirements can sideline athletes, regardless of talent. Honest Game’s Academic Eligibility Guide emphasizes early planning and consistent academic performance to maintain eligibility. As opportunities grow, staying academically prepared is crucial to ensuring athletes can compete. 

With expanding NCAA opportunities, academic preparation is more crucial than ever. Honest Game offers resources to help student-athletes navigate eligibility requirements, ensuring success both in the classroom and on the field.