Matt Rhule reveals how Nebraska will approach walk-ons after roster limits take effect

Throughout Nebraska football’s history, walk-ons have been an important part of the program. The Cornhuskers have traditionally carried a larger roster with non-scholarship players – but things could be changing in the new college football landscape.

Roster limits are coming to college athletics, and that number will be at 105 for football. That creates uncertainty around the future of walk-ons, and Matt Rhule has been outspoken about their importance to not only Nebraska, but the sport as a whole.

Now that the House v. NCAA settlement has full approval, roster limits will be on the way. Rhule weighed the impact it can have on the sport and confirmed Nebraska will still find a way to carry walk-ons and maintain that proud tradition.

“I know people here at Nebraska, we don’t love the fact that we can’t carry the larger roster, which has been part of our culture,” Rhule told Greg McElroy on Always College Football. “But we won’t get rid of it all together. We’ll still take some walk-ons. It’ll be, maybe, a little bit harder.

“But I hope those kids that would’ve walked on here, now, they’re at other schools in the Dakotas, the FCS schools in the Midwest and really elevate that level of football.”

Matt Rhule does not ‘love’ roster limits

As the House v. NCAA settlement went through the final approval process, uncertainty swirled – specifically for athletes who could have lost spots on rosters as a result of the new limits. However, the final agreement included a provision to “grandfather” spots for those athletes at schools’ discretion.

In the meantime, as rosters begin to downsize, Matt Rhule said the non-power conferences could see a boost in talent. That includes non-FBS programs, as well as those in Division II and Division III. It could create parity, although Rhule said he’s still skeptical about the idea of roster limits.

“On the positive side, you’re hoping that it pushes more really good players into positions of success at the Group of 5 level, FCS, Division II, Division III and downward,” Rhule said. “Sitting on the bench for four years at a school where you’re not going to play, maybe you’ll go somewhere and play.

“I don’t love the roster limit, I think we’re always looking for ways to create parity that aren’t really real. I would much rather just say, hey, this is the amount of guys that can dress on game day. But that was the rule. We’re going to stick to it.”