Ross Dellenger and Dan Wetzel discuss the recent settlement in the three antitrust cases against the NCAA and the deal that would expand college football rosters to allow 105 scholarship spots. While this is a win for student athletes, Dan and Ross argue that this could upset the competitive balance in the sport and that blue-blood schools in power conferences could be even more effective in poaching athletes from mid-level universities and bottom. Listen to the full conversation on the “College Football Enquirer” podcast — and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Video transcript
As far as football goes, if you can have 20 more scholarships, however, you will be capped at 100 and five players.
I’m trying, trying to find out.
I don’t want to jump to conclusions.
Does this leave more talent at the top?
Because obviously, like Ohio State had 100 and five, now, that’s 20 more kids that are full scholarship players for Ohio State, so that’s 20 fewer kids, that would say.
Okay, I’ll play in the middle of the Big 10, right?
And that’s filtered, but Ohio State might have 100 and 30 guys in their program right now.
So actually there are 25 guys who are now more free to be anywhere.
Does that balance out or is that, uh, my, my, my, my initial reaction is that this is going to make it very difficult, not just for the Mid-America conferences and the, the, the Mountain West and stuff, but even the , middle of the pack, right?
You don’t need Ryan Day running around with five more scholarships to offer every year.
What are they, what are you listening to or?
What are your thoughts?
Yes definitely.
Um, I think, you know, every rule change that we’ve seen Dan in the last few years just widens the gap, uh, pretty much between a lot of the sport’s best, the sport’s blue bloods and everyone else.
And this is another one.
There’s a reason the Big 10 and SEC have recommended higher roster limits, specifically for football.
120.
And I think 110, uh, as opposed to the AC C big 12 in G five, which is more in the 90 to 100 range.
There’s a reason for that.
Right.
Uh, they, yeah, they, so they would, they basically settled in the middle, closest to the middle, I think they could get to 105.
But I, I think you’re right.
Um, I think, you know, 20 extra boards, um, that’s 20 extra players that are taken from the middle of the power four and then it’s 20 extra players, Dan to the middle of the power four to take from the G five and down.
Right.
It’s probably a team of four up to 64.
They’ve been with Notre Dame for 70 years, I think, they’re not great players, they’re not the best at math.
So I’ll leave you with this.
But, you know, here’s a note.
Uh, now it depends on where, but there are probably at least 10 out of maybe 20 major college football programs that have a paid roster of at least 95,100, maybe 100 and five players, right?
Because NIO collects walk ons are not really walk ons.
Right.
They are receiving monthly payments from the NIO Collective.
Um, and this is happening a lot.
Now you will get it right.
You will have the skill.
Yes, officially offering scholarships and on top of that Dan, all red and then they will be red share and that, that will be significant.
Now, the thing is, you can only put so many guys on the court, on the field, but you should, in terms of recruiting.
I mean, there are 1,400 scholarships available that would go and, and there are levels in the Big 10 and there are levels in the second.
That’s why not.
The last thing most of the Big 10 want is Michigan, Ohio State with 20 more guys.
