Nebraska football walk-on program fade into oblivion officially begins

If it hasn’t sunk in just yet, one of the most beloved aspects of the Nebraska football program is about to be a thing of the past. That is barring some sort of last minute change to how the schools around the NCAA are expected to settle a lawsuit that has to do with athlete compensation.

As part of the House vs NCAA settlement, all schools will be allowed to pay their players directly. Another part of that agreement sets roster limits at no more than 105 football players on any team. The good news here is that anyone who makes the team, can be given a scholarship, up from 85 this year.

The bad news is that teams like Nebraska football, which currently has a roster of more than 140 players thanks to the walk-on program, are going to have to deliver some terrible news to dozens of kids over the next 12 months—and then every year in the future.

Nebraska football walk-on program is effectively dead

Head coach Matt Rhule addressed the settlement during his Big Ten Media Days appearance. It’s clear he’s not remotely happy about the limit. He and others around Nebraska were hoping for at least 120 players as the limit.

“I think, like anything else, the devil is in the details,” Rhule said. “When does that number go into effect? What I mean by that is – Demitrius Bell got hurt in the spring game. He’s out for the year. Does he count in our 105? If he counts in the 105, you’re going to see a lot of other schools – probably not Nebraska, but a lot of others are going to start moving those guys on.”

Brief reprieve for Nebraska football before the end

For now, the answer to Rhule’s question appears to be that Bell is safe, because he won’t need to make the roster cuts this fall. While it’s not official, reports say the cuts will need to be done by the start of the reason in 2025.

There is also some talk that the Huskers and other schools will be able to have more than 105 right up until the start of the season. This will make spring practice and fall camp much more in line with the NFL. Players will go through practices not just hoping to make the 2-deep but to make the roster at all.

It’s about to be a new world for Nebraska football and the rest of the sport. We won’t know the exact fallout for some time. However, it certainly does look like the Cornhuskers walk-on program will be all but in the ground by this time next summer. And that’s a massive bummer.