Roster Limits for Every Alabama Sport Following House v. NCAA Settlement

All Crimson Tide athletic programs saw an increase in scholarship limits, but which sport received the most?

Drone Show during Homecoming Festivities at University of Alabama Quad in Tuscaloosa, AL on Friday, Oct 25, 2024. | Photo by Crimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics

Late on Friday night, after years of litigation, Judge Claudia Wilken approved the landmark House v. NCAA settlement, which will allowb schools to participate in revenue sharing directly with the athletes, and there will be a salary cap system ($20.5 million to athletes) plus roster limits to college sports.

This settlement was from a branch of three lawsuits combined into one case, which addressed compensation for collegiate athletes. The results of this case also bring $2.8 billion in damages for former and current athletes who were not able to profit from NIL over the last decade, as the name, image and likeness model was created in the summer of 2021.

As previously stated, the agreement created a change in the number of scholarships that each collegiate sport could distribute. Some sports across the country saw large increases and decreases in scholarships, but for the sports at Alabama, all of them gained more roster spots.

Here's a look at the changes in roster limits for each Alabama sport:

Sport	Old Scholarship Limit	New Roster Limit	Potential Increase in Scholarships
Baseball	11.7	34	22.3
Men's Basketball	13	15	2
Women's Basketball	15	15	0
Men's Cross Country	5	17	12
Women's Cross Country	6	17	11
Football	85	105	20
Men's Golf	4.5	9	4.5
Women's Golf	6	9	3
Gymnastics	12	20	8
Men's Track and Field	12.6	45	35.4
Women's Track and Field	18	45	27
Rowing	20	68	48
Soccer	14	28	14
Softball	12	25	13
Men's Swimming and Diving	9.9	30	20.1
Women's Swimming and Diving	14	30	16
Men's Tennis	4.5	10	5.5
Women's Tennis	8	10	2
Volleyball	12	18	6

Based on the table above, Alabama men's track and field saw the highest rise with 35 more scholarships becoming available, while women's basketball stayed the course.

Nevertheless, while there are more scholarships to go around, the hot topic that is the transfer portal was not altered in the settlement.

So while the roster increase can provide more depth, it may also increase the amount of redshirts––which could see more and more athletes enter the portal for a bigger role elsewhere after their respective sport's season.