Understanding Scholarship Offers

College athletics, especially college football, were turned upside down because of the HOUSE V. NCAA settlement.

Before the settlement, college teams did not have roster limits. Scholarships at the NCAA D-I Football Bowl Subdivision level were full-ride - you were either on scholarship, or you were a walk-on.

• FBS schools were allowed to offer up to 85 scholarships.
• Football Championship Subdivision schools were allowed to offer up to 63 scholarships on equivalency.
• D-II schools were allowed to offer up to 36 scholarships on equivalency.
• D-III schools are not allowed to offer athletic aid.
• NAIA and junior colleges followed their own scholarship rules.

Understanding College Football Scholarships (Post-Settlement)

After the settlement, FBS football programs will be allowed to offer up to 105 scholarships. However, most FBS schools will only fully fund 85 scholarships.

• FBS football will be capped with a maximum roster limit of 105 players - down from an average of 140 players in 2024.
• FBS, once a headcount sport, will now be an equivalency sport. This change allows programs to offer a combination of partial and full scholarships.
• Elite players will still get full rides, but coaches may decide to offer partial scholarships to players who were previously at lower talent levels.
• FBS schools will be allowed to share revenue with players, an average of $15 million for a football team or $140,741 per player.
• FCS, D-II, D-III, NAIA, and junior college programs are not impacted by the settlement, and roster sizes and scholarship limitations will remain at the same level as in previous years.

The easiest way to think of it is that at the FBS, FCS, and D-II levels, coaches have the equivalent of 85, 63, and 36 scholarships to distribute amongst the roster of 100-plus players. Players will receive a percentage of that scholarship. The better you are, the higher the percentage of that pool of scholarship money you'll receive.

But equivalents mean different things to different schools, especially at the FCS and D-II levels. Some will choose to focus more of the percentage on in-state players, out-of-state talent, or players who have been on the roster for multiple seasons. Plus, some schools' athletic departments will not be fully funded, so their funding might not be anywhere near that 63 or 36 equivalent number. If an FCS or D-II school is offering a half scholarship, it's equivalent to a D-I school offering a full ride.

Full-Ride Scholarship Offer

The biggest difference between full rides and other scholarships is that a full ride covers all college expenses, not just tuition. This scholarship helps with books, fees, tuition, room and board, dining, and other college expenses. Full-ride scholarship offers are usually reserved for FBS-level athletes.

Partial Scholarship Offer/Equivalent

Again, starting with the 2025-2026 academic year, FBS schools can start to offer partial scholarships or equivalents. Every other level of college football operates on the partial scholarships or equivalent model. This means coaches have a pool of scholarship money that they can divide amongst their roster. A partial scholarship can cover a significant portion of college costs or very little. One student-athlete on a team may get a scholarship that covers tuition, while a teammate may only get offered a scholarship that covers the costs of books. This financial figure is determined by conversations with coaches.

Walk-On Offer

Not all offers come with a scholarship or partial offer. Sometimes, coaches will simply offer players a spot on the roster with no financial incentives. There are also different types of walk-ons, so it's important to get clarification as you navigate the recruiting process.

Preferred Walk-On Offer

A preferred walk-on offer promises you a roster spot on day one of camp, but the coach is unable or unwilling to offer any level of scholarship or financial assistance. In the most traditional sense, a preferred walk-on is a player who has scholarship offers from small FBS or FCS schools and hopes to play his way into a scholarship at a Power Five school.

Recruited Walk-On Offer

There is no financial assistance and no guarantee of a roster spot on day one. Although there is no financial assistance or even a guarantee of making the team, some players view a recruited walk-on offer as a chance to play at the highest level of competition and believe they can earn a scholarship.

Other Types of Offers

Offers can also come in a rainbow of colors, impacting the type of participation and enrollment a student-athlete takes when he arrives on campus. The different colors indicate how a coach sees a recruit contributing to the program in the short term and the long term.

Redshirt

The player is on scholarship but does not compete for one athletic year. Not participating, or "redshirting," reserves an athlete's eligibility, meaning they will still be able to play for four seasons. During a redshirt year, players participate in classes and can take part in practices and off-field activities of their scholarship program. They can even dress for their respective games, so long as they don't exceed the current rules and limitations set forth by the NCAA.

Grayshirt

The player delays enrolling as a full-time student (12-plus hours) and participating/practicing with the team for one academic semester. The athlete is technically NOT on scholarship until the second semester of their freshman season.

Greenshirt

Greenshirts are oftentimes the big-time players in a school's recruiting class. They are the recruits who are likely to play early when arriving on campus - especially at quarterback. Because of this, many players choose to graduate high school in December and enroll in college early for the spring semester. You see the term "early-enrollee" often, but the proper label in the sports world is a greenshirt. Players receive their scholarship in the same way that they would if they enrolled in the fall and can take classes full-time without any complications.

Blueshirt

Blueshirts are, on paper, walk-ons who receive scholarships that count towards a team's allotment for the next year. It's a way for schools to get around the limited scholarship amount and bring in more players with the promise of a scholarship. To qualify to be a blueshirt, a player cannot have been officially recruited by their school: this means that they have not taken an official visit prior to attending the school and have not signed. Being a blueshirt means that a player is just short of being a part of the official recruiting class but is higher up on the recruiting board than grayshirts or PWOs.

Scholarship Offers & Commitments

Even though officially not able to offer June 15 after sophomore year, schools can and do make offers at any time and through different means: in person, phone, email, certified letter, FedEx, direct message, or through the high school coach.

There is no right way to get offered. It's like lightning - can strike anywhere at any time.

Follow-up questions to ask after you get offered:

• What is the scholarship offer for? Full-ride or an equivalent?
• How long do I have to make a decision?

Just because you've been offered doesn't mean you have to commit, but most offers will have a time clock on them.

Concerned that the offer might be fishy, or it was done via direct message and you're not sure it's legit, have your parents or coaches engage to get clarity.

What is Important in Making Decisions

Factors that college football recruits use to make their college decisions are varied and significant. Remember, every recruiting journey is different - so what's important for somebody else might not matter to you. But there are still some key factors that most recruits use when picking a school.

• Program success: One of the primary considerations is often the program's reputation and success. Recruits look at the team's history, including its performance in recent seasons, its standing within the conference or division, and its overall competitiveness.
• Coach success: The quality of the coaching staff is another critical factor. Prospective players often consider the coaches' track record, their ability to develop talent, and their reputation for fostering a positive team environment.
• Location: Some players may prefer to stay close to home, while others might be eager to experience a new region or climate.
• Playing time: Let's be honest - if you're going through the recruiting process, you're a competitor. Finding a school where you can play early is a factor for many prospects.
• Campus environment and facilities: The campus environment and facilities are equally significant for many recruits, as players want to ensure they will have access to top-notch training facilities, comfortable living arrangements, and vibrant campus life.
• Academics: In addition to athletic considerations, academic offerings and support services play a crucial role in the decision-making process for many recruits. Recruits often seek institutions that provide a robust education, with courses and programs that align with their long-term career goals. The availability of academic support services, such as tutoring and advising, is also important, as it ensures that student-athletes can balance their academic and athletic commitments.
• Scholarship money: Financial aid packages and scholarships are pivotal as well, as they can significantly impact a recruit's choice, particularly for those who may face financial constraints.
• The right feel: Ultimately, the overall fit between the recruit's personal values and the school's culture can sway his final decision. Recruits look for a sense of community and belonging, and they often choose programs where they feel they can thrive both on and off the field.