The NCAA has decided to eliminate restrictions on sport-specific scholarship limits. This decision made by the Division I Board of Directors aligns with a recently approved House settlement, which becomes effective on July 1. Schools that join this settlement can now award scholarships without limitations as their teams adhere to the newly defined roster size caps. For college football, the maximum number of players on a roster will be 105, replacing the previous cap of 85.

This modification is anticipated to significantly increase the total number of scholarships available and more than double the past offerings for female athletes. According to Virginia Tech president Tim Sands, who chairs the board, this approval marks a new chapter for college sports with heightened benefits for student athletes.

“With the court’s affirmation of the House settlement, college sports are entering a new period of enhanced benefits for student-athletes,” Sands remarked. The new rules also ensure that athletes currently eligible will not lose their spots if teams adjust to comply with the committee’s directives, a crucial factor in the settlement’s approval, which initially faced delays due to concerns about its implications for existing players.

This decision is historic for college athletics, signaling an era where universities can share revenue directly with athletes. The decade-long $2.8 billion settlement will compensate past players for missed opportunities related to name, image, and likeness, and will improve access to legitimate NIL contracts moving forward.