The House v. NCAA case hasn't affected Texas' roster strategy... yet
The House v. NCAA court case settlement will alter intercollegiate athletics in ways never thought possible a few years ago. Between back pay for former student-athletes, paying players, and other open doors for college athletes, the sports world at the NCAA level is about to look a lot more professional.
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One of the biggest changes is the cap to roster sizes for individual sports. For the Football Bowl Subdivision, that cap will be 105 if the settlement agreed to by the plaintiffs, the NCAA, and the numerous Division I athletic conferences is approved.
At this juncture, the settlement only has preliminary approval. According to reporting from On3’s Pete Nakos, the next steps in the process are all set to occur after the first national signing period for FBS football. The deadline for objections is January 31, 2025. The motion for final approval is on March 3, 2025. The final approval hearing is scheduled for April 7, 2025, and will be held remotely and in person.
The early national signing period is December 4-6 this year. The second signing day is on February 5, 2025.
While a 105-man roster is coming, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and his program, at least for now, are going to remain in the current 85-scholarship reality.
“I don’t think we can do that yet,” Sarkisian said when asked if he’s recruiting with a 105-man roster in mind. “I think we have to operate as if things are what they are, because the last thing I want to do is take a bunch of commitments and then they turn around and say ‘no, you only have 85.’ Then, what do I say to these seven, eight, 10 kids? ‘Hey, sorry, you can’t come.’ I just don’t think that’s the right thing to do. We’re going to operate as if we’re at 85 until they tell us otherwise, then we’ll have to adjust and pivot at that point from there.”
The Texas roster is currently at its full 85-man allotment after Bert Auburn was given a full scholarship prior to the 2024 season. Texas’ 2025 class has 21 players committed currently, and the Longhorns remain in contact with a double-digit number of senior prospects as signing day gets closer and closer. Of course, a transfer portal window is on the horizon as well.
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Texas brought in 35 high school and portal additions in the 2022 cycle, 30 in the 2023 class, and 34 in the 2024 process.
Sarkisian was asked if he planned to take a larger high school class in 2025. He didn’t admit whether he was or not, though the aforementioned search for more prospects might give his answer away.
If Texas goes big or just adds a handful more in 2025, Sarkisian doesn’t want to take so many to where he has to turn people who signed up to be part of his top-10 (and likely top-five) class away at the last minute. With that in mind, he’s operating with an 85-man mentality until the court says it’s time to shift to 105 ahead of the 2025-26 academic year.
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“I’d hate it to go the other way,” Sarkisian said. “Maybe other schools can get away with doing that, but not here. I don’t think that would bode well.”
