Nebraska football walk-on program gets apparent reprieve

There are few traditions that are nearer and dearer to the hearts of Nebraska football fans, coaches, and players than the walk-on program. That’s why reports that part of the revenue sharing settlement being worked on this summer could end the program entirely was met with quite the backlash from Lincoln.

The elimination of the walk-on programs actually has enemies all over college football, and it appears those voices have been heard. It looks like the roster limits coming from the House vs NCAA settlement aren’t going to be anywhere near as drastic.

Pete Thamel reported on Monday that while the original roster limit tossed around was at 85, it looks like the limit could be much closer to 110 or 120. Which would be a much smaller burden for Nebraska football, even if the walk-on program would still take a hit.

Nebraska football walk-on program not dead after all

“The range of roster limits being discussed is between 100 and 110, with the Big Ten lobbying for the higher side of that range,” Thamel wrote on social media. “There’s discussion of a ‘phase in’ on this, so teams with giant rosters – think 130/140 – potentially don’t have to make immediate giant cuts for 2025.”

Nebraska absolutely fits in the category of “giant” rosters. The Huskers currently have 143 players on the official roster. That’s also without several of the newest additions being reflected on the list.

Cutting down to 110 would obviously mean that the Huskers would have to cut down quite a bit. This isn’t a perfect solution for the Cornhuskers, but it would allow them to keep the walk-on program alive.

The Nebraska football team has had to deal with roster shrinkage before. Back in the Osborne heydays, the rosters could be much higher than they are today. The program survived and adjusted. It looks like it needs to happen again but at least it won’t be the death-knell of the walk-on program.