NCAA Roster Size Limits by Sport: A Comprehensive Guide for Track & Field and Cross Country Athletes

In July 2025, the NCAA introduced significant changes to Division I roster sizes and athletic scholarship rules as part of a legal settlement, impacting various sports, including track and field and cross country. These changes, effective for the 2025-26 season, eliminate the old sport-specific scholarship caps and instead impose maximum roster limits for each team. This article breaks down the effects of these changes, particularly for track and field and cross country athletes, and offers guidance on adapting recruiting strategies moving forward.

Overview of the New NCAA Rules

The NCAA Board's vote formally codifying these rules noted that removing scholarship caps could “dramatically increase” the total scholarships available to athletes, while roster limits maintain competitive balance. D-I schools that opt into the settlement can now offer scholarships to every athlete on a team roster, but they must keep team rosters under a certain size. These changes were approved in June 2025 and took effect on July 1, 2025, as part of the House v. NCAA legal settlement and mark a historic shift in NCAA policy toward more athlete benefits.

Key Provisions

No Scholarship Cap: NCAA D1 schools can offer scholarships to every athlete on their roster, eliminating previous sport-specific limits.
New Roster Limits: The NCAA is introducing new roster limits that match or exceed current scholarship restrictions for each sport.
Scholarship Type: All sports will now be classified as equivalency sports, allowing schools to offer partial scholarships.
Direct Payment: Starting in 2025, schools can opt to share a “cap” of up to $20.5 million with their student-athletes, beginning July 1, 2025.

Compliance Deadline

December 1, 2025: Winter/spring teams must be compliant by their season start or Dec.

Which NCAA Track & Field Programs Are Impacted?

Despite misconceptions among the public, including prospective recruits, all NCAA track and field/cross country programs are not directly affected by these recent changes. The list below outlines which colleges will have track and field/cross country programs with no scholarship limits, but restricted roster sizes beginning in 2025-26.

Division I Programs

The new roster cap and scholarship rules apply exclusively to NCAA Division I programs. No Division II or III teams are impacted (the changes were enacted by the D-I Board for D-I members). However, the new roster and scholarship rules will not apply to all Division I track and field/cross country programs.

Power Conferences

D-I schools in the “Power” (formerly "Power Five," now referred to as “Power Four,” “Power 4,” or simply “Power") conferences - ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC - are required to adopt these changes as part of the settlement. These conferences were defendants in the lawsuit and will be implementing the new roster limits across their sports. All track and field and XC teams in these conferences must comply with the roster maximums (45 for track, 17 for XC; 35 and 10 respectively for men's SEC rosters) starting in 2025-26.

Other D-I Schools Opting In

While only programs in the Power conferences must follow the new rules, the settlement allows any D-I school to opt in. Many programs outside the Power conferences have indicated they will opt in to gain the same benefits for their athletes. This means some mid-major conferences (and other Division I schools) will also adopt the roster caps and scholarship-unlimited model. The deadline for schools to opt in for the 2025-26 year was June 15, 2025 (for revenue sharing) and June 30, 2025 (to accept the new rules). As of mid-July 2025, there is no full, publicly released list of which NCAA Division I schools (or their individual sports programs) have officially opted in to the House v. NCAA settlement.

Impact on High School Recruits

Fewer Roster Spots

Power Four (and many opt-in programs) now take fewer walk-ons, reducing opportunities for “raw potential” athletes to develop over time. Many coaches now prioritize freshmen who can score right away, not long-term projects. Fewer roster spots = less room for developmental recruits.

Rise in Transfer Portal Recruiting

Coaches favour proven college performers (from D-II, U SPORTS, NAIA, non-Power D-I) over untested high schoolers. Older athletes with scoring potential crowd out incoming recruits. The transfer portal is now a primary pipeline, not just a fallback.

More Value Placed on Event Versatility

Multi-event recruits who can contribute points across multiple disciplines (e.g.

Decrease in Walk-On Athletes

You’re going to see a significant decrease in walk-on level athletes on NCAA D-I rosters.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

Impact on Track and Field Specialization

The roster size limitation also extends to track and field, where only 45 athletes are allowed per team. With 22 outdoor events in NCAA track and field, this averages just two athletes per event.

Team Specialization

Teams may become more specialized, focusing on a narrower range of events while potentially fielding no athletes in others.

Increased Value of Versatile Athletes

Alternatively, this also increases the value of versatile athletes who can compete across multiple events. However, it may hinder athletes from pursuing event-specific excellence or breaking NCAA records, as they could be required to spread themselves across multiple disciplines. The broader impact? Some future greats may never get their shot.

Practical Tips for Athletes and Families

Exploring Event Versatility

Read my recent article on the topic here: One Big Tip for High School Track & Field Athletes Targeting NCAA Division I Recruitment.

Be Open to Non-Power Schools

Division I alone is home to over 300 schools with amazing track and field/cross country programs, many of which have elite facilities and top-notch academic pathways. At the end of the day, even if you’re not competing in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, or ACC, you can still qualify for the same NCAA D-I championship meets - in XC, indoor, and outdoor seasons - as athletes on Power rosters.

Consider Other Collegiate Options

Considering U SPORTS, Division II, Division III, NAIA, and JuCo (NJCAA) programs as well.

Develop a Recruitment Plan

Book some time with me to discuss your recruitment journey. Together, we’ll build a personalized recruitment plan to guide you each step of the way and we’ll do so with focus on athletics, academics, location, and your financial situation. Book your recruitment advising session with me here.

Stay Informed and Ask Questions

Keep an eye on updates from schools and the NCAA regarding the new rules.

Educate Yourself and Follow NCSA

Learn about the new rules and their implications.

Show Your Value and Focus on Performance

Highlight your skills to coaches, demonstrating your versatility and value.

What Comes Next?

These changes are new and evolving. As rosters shrink and scholarships expand, families and coaches alike will need to monitor how individual programs react to the new landscape in real time. There are several layers to the landmark NCAA v. SPORTS LOSING ROSTER SPOTS (V. SPORTS GAINING ROSTER SPOTS (V. However, zooming in, some teams will obviously be affected more than others. The average men’s roster size in 2023-24 was approximately 26, but the Florida Gators, for example, had 41 men on their team. As outlined by Keller on X, if we take out football, the average roster size change is an extra 2.3 spots per team. The NCAA v.

Additional Considerations

Title IX Implications

Important note on Title IX: The settlement does not include Title IX enforcement provisions. Legal experts expect new lawsuits on gender equity in athlete compensation. Just because the rules allow for fair distribution doesn’t mean every school will follow through.

Impact on Different Sports

Previously, baseball had large rosters (35-40+), which are now capped at 35. That means fewer walk-on spots. Women’s Volleyball has a roster cap of 18, but many programs didn’t carry much more than this already. In lacrosse, new caps: 49 (men), 40 (women). These are tight for programs that carried mid-50s rosters. Men’s and women’s soccer is now capped at 32 roster spots. This could impact the depth chart, especially for walk-ons.

Roster Designation

If a team currently has more athletes than allowed by the new roster limits, they must “designate” returning athletes to stay on the team without violating rules.

tags: #NCAA #roster #size #limits #by #sport