coach Josh Sash were there for boosters and donorsClub. One of the topics we spoke about – College football rosters. Coaches and a lot of walk-ons – – are in total limbo as the industry awaits a ruling in a landmark settlement THe House settlement – which will pave the way for players to be paid directly by the schools, includes a stipulation that college football rosters must be no larger than 105 players. With this in the works months ago, some schools told their walk-ons back in December they would PROBABLY no longer have a spot. Some walkons stayed anyways, hoping the rule would change, but that was a risk, because they would miss their opportunity to transfer to another school. The most RECENT development was last week when judge Claudia Wiklen said she wanted to grandfather in the 105 rule, so walkons already with the team could stay. She ordered the NCAA to figure out how to make it happen – and we might hear something this Friday or next week. Meanwhile, frustrated coaches have been cutting players since December, and are now just finding out maybe they didn’t have to. <...they chose to take."> Liek Ferentz, ISU has some walkons not sure what to do as the await the latest ruling from the judge. These coaches simply DO many players they can have on their tea
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‘Silliest thing I’ve ever heard of’: Coaches lament NCAA roster uncertainty
Players for Matt Campbell and Kirk Ferentz are in tough spots as teams await the latest landmark ruling.
Updated: 6:41 AM CDT May 1, 2025
It’s a rough time to be a walk-on. College football rosters are in total limbo as the industry awaits a ruling in a landmark settlement.The House vs. NCAA settlement, which has not been approved yet, will pave the way for players to be paid directly by the schools. It includes a stipulation that college football rosters must be no larger than 105 players, down from the approximately 120 players teams have rostered in the past.With this impending change in the works months ago, some schools told their walk-ons back in December they would probably no longer have a spot. Most of these players transferred to other programs. Some walk-ons stayed anyways, hoping the rule would change. That was a risk, however, because they would miss their opportunity to transfer to another school.The most recent development was last week. Judge Claudia Wilken said if the settlement parties cannot revise terms in a way that will prevent college athletes from losing roster spots due to the implementation of new roster limits, the $2.8 billion agreement will be denied approval.In other words, she wants to grandfather in the 105 rule, so walk-ons already with the team could stay. She ordered the NCAA to figure out how to make it happen, and we might hear something this Friday or next week.Meanwhile, frustrated coaches have been cutting players since December, and are now just finding out maybe they didn’t have to.”We did all that stuff in December out of fairness to our players,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “So, when I heard it might be retroactive or grandfathered, which I thought that would be a good idea months ago, it is unfortunate. There are some guys we would love to have on our team right now that are elsewhere. It was for their benefit. I don’t think we are able to get them back, unfortunately. We had a small, not even a handful, number of players that chose to stay knowing there were no guarantees. If the judge decides the number can be bigger than 105, then those guys potentially have a home, which is good for them. That is a risk they chose to take.”Like Ferentz, ISU coach Matt Campbell also met with impacted players back in December. Campbell also still has some walk-ons not sure what to do as the team awaits the latest ruling from the judge. The coaches simply do not know how many players they can have on their team.”What you are trying to do is look out for the best interest of every kid in your program and their families,” Campbell said. “It is hard when you don’t know the rules. The rules are still not very clear. When you don’t know, you certainly have to prepare every young person for what could be the most extreme of the rules. I mean, c’mon. It’s April and we don’t even know what the rules are for next Fall? That is the silliest thing I’ve ever heard of.”» Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
It’s a rough time to be a walk-on. College football rosters are in total limbo as the industry awaits a ruling in a landmark settlement.
The House vs. NCAA settlement, which has not been approved yet, will pave the way for players to be paid directly by the schools. It includes a stipulation that college football rosters must be no larger than 105 players, down from the approximately 120 players teams have rostered in the past.
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With this impending change in the works months ago, some schools told their walk-ons back in December they would probably no longer have a spot. Most of these players transferred to other programs. Some walk-ons stayed anyways, hoping the rule would change. That was a risk, however, because they would miss their opportunity to transfer to another school.
The most recent development was last week. Judge Claudia Wilken said if the settlement parties cannot revise terms in a way that will prevent college athletes from losing roster spots due to the implementation of new roster limits, the $2.8 billion agreement will be denied approval.
In other words, she wants to grandfather in the 105 rule, so walk-ons already with the team could stay. She ordered the NCAA to figure out how to make it happen, and we might hear something this Friday or next week.
Meanwhile, frustrated coaches have been cutting players since December, and are now just finding out maybe they didn’t have to.
“We did all that stuff in December out of fairness to our players,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “So, when I heard it might be retroactive or grandfathered, which I thought that would be a good idea months ago, it is unfortunate. There are some guys we would love to have on our team right now that are elsewhere. It was for their benefit. I don’t think we are able to get them back, unfortunately. We had a small, not even a handful, number of players that chose to stay knowing there were no guarantees. If the judge decides the number can be bigger than 105, then those guys potentially have a home, which is good for them. That is a risk they chose to take.”
Like Ferentz, ISU coach Matt Campbell also met with impacted players back in December. Campbell also still has some walk-ons not sure what to do as the team awaits the latest ruling from the judge. The coaches simply do not know how many players they can have on their team.
“What you are trying to do is look out for the best interest of every kid in your program and their families,” Campbell said. “It is hard when you don’t know the rules. The rules are still not very clear. When you don’t know, you certainly have to prepare every young person for what could be the most extreme of the rules. I mean, c’mon. It’s April and we don’t even know what the rules are for next Fall? That is the silliest thing I’ve ever heard of.”
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