NCAA Roster Size and Scholarship Changes in Track & Field/Cross Country (2025)

July 2025 — Recent NCAA rule changes will cap team sizes but allow more scholarships for track and field/cross country student-athletes. This article breaks down which programs are affected, what these changes mean for track and field and cross country athletes, and how to adapt your recruiting strategy moving forward.

In 2025, the NCAA implemented major changes to Division I roster sizes and athletic scholarship rules as part of a court settlement. These new rules (effective for the 2025–26 season) eliminate the old sport-specific scholarship caps and instead impose maximum roster limits for each team.

D-I schools that opt into the settlement can now offer scholarships to every athlete on a team roster, but they must keep team rosters under a certain size. For example, track and field teams will be capped at 45 athletes (45 each for men’s and women’s rosters), and cross country teams at 17 athletes, replacing the previous scholarship limits of 12.6 (men’s) and 18 (women’s).

The SEC (Southeastern Conference) has taken roster restriction even further, imposing limits of 35 athletes for track and field rosters and only 10 for cross country.

These changes were approved in June 2025 and took effect on July 1, 2025 as part of the House v. NCAA legal settlement and mark a historic shift in NCAA policy toward more athlete benefits. The NCAA Board’s vote formally codifying these rules noted that removing scholarship caps could “dramatically increase” the total scholarships available to athletes, while roster limits maintain competitive balance.

Which NCAA Track & Field Programs Are Impacted?

Despite misconceptions among the public, including prospective recruits, all NCAA track and field/cross country programs are not directly affected by these recent changes. The list below outlines which colleges will have track and field/cross country programs with no scholarship limits, but restricted roster sizes beginning in 2025-26.

Division I

• The new roster cap and scholarship rules apply exclusively to NCAA Division I programs. No Division II or III teams are impacted (the changes were enacted by the D-I Board for D-I members). However, the new roster and scholarship rules will not apply to all Division I track and field/cross country programs.  

Power Conferences

• D-I schools in the “Power” (formerly "Power Five," now referred to as “Power Four,” “Power 4,” or simply “Power") conferences – ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC — are required to adopt these changes as part of the settlement. These conferences were defendants in the lawsuit and will be implementing the new roster limits across their sports. All track and field and XC teams in these conferences must comply with the roster maximums (45 for track, 17 for XC; 35 and 10 respectively in the SEC) starting in 2025-26.

Other D-I schools opting in

• While only programs in the Power conferences must follow the new rules, the settlement allows any D-I school to opt in. Many programs outside the Power conferences have indicated they will opt in to gain the same benefits for their athletes. This means some mid-major conferences (and other Division I schools) will also adopt the roster caps and scholarship-unlimited model. The deadline for schools to opt in for the 2025–26 year was June 15, 2025 (for revenue sharing) and June 30, 2025 (to accept the new rules). As of mid-July 2025, there is no full, publicly released list of which NCAA Division I schools (or their individual sports programs) have officially opted in to the House v. NCAA settlement.

What the NCAA D-I Roster and Scholarship Changes Mean for…

High School Recruits

Fewer roster spots = less room for developmental recruits

• Power Four (and many opt-in programs) now take fewer walk-ons, reducing opportunities for “raw potential” athletes to develop over time.
• Many coaches now prioritize freshmen who can score right away, not long-term projects.

Rise in transfer portal recruiting

• Coaches favour proven college performers (from D-II, U SPORTS, NAIA, non-Power D-I) over untested high schoolers.
• Older athletes with scoring potential crowd out incoming recruits.
• The transfer portal is now a primary pipeline, not just a fallback.

More value placed on event versatility

• Multi-event recruits who can contribute points across multiple disciplines (e.g. 100/200/LJ or 800/1500/5K) are now more heavily prioritized.
• Athletes with year-round scoring potential (XC + indoor + outdoor) are particularly desirable.
• For more info on versatility and how to stand out to college coaches with elite high school performances in multiple events, read our article on the topic here: One Big Tip for High School Track & Field Athletes Targeting NCAA Division I Recruitment.

Recruiting timelines may accelerate

• With fewer spots to offer, coaches may push for earlier commitments, limiting time for athletes to prove themselves late in the recruiting cycle (e.g., senior year PRs).

Transfer Athletes

Higher priority placed on transfer athletes as recruits

• Experienced athletes now have a major edge in the recruiting market, especially those who can fill scoring gaps at conference or national meets.
• Mid-major D-I, D-II, and U SPORTS programs have become launch pads for athletes aiming to transfer to Division I Power schools.
• Power programs are increasingly using the transfer portal to fill precise event group needs instead of relying on high school development.

College Coaches & Programs

Roster optimization = tougher decisions

• Roster caps (e.g., 45 for track, 17 for XC) are forcing coaches to trim rosters and get more strategic with event group depth.
• Some programs are choosing to roster XC-only athletes to expand overall athlete headcount without using up track spots.

More money, fewer athletes = scholarship inflation

• Unlimited scholarships allow coaches to offer more generous packages to top recruits.
• Expect to see more partial or full scholarships going to athletes at programs with capped roster sizes.
• Programs with strong financial backing will now separate further from lower-resourced D-I schools.

Budget and Title IX balancing act

• With no cap on scholarship money but strict roster counts, schools must carefully manage male/female aid allocation to stay Title IX compliant.
• Some schools may shift aid toward women’s sports or adjust roster sizes accordingly.

Thoughts from Streamline Athletes on the NCAA’s New Roster & Scholarship Rules

Lucas Corea

Roster Limits vs. Opportunity

Having no limit on the allotment of scholarship opportunities isn’t inherently bad. This change will allow more athletes to afford a college education. However, the most significant impact will be felt in the form of roster limitations.

As many know, a cross country starting team typically consists of seven runners, with a minimum of five needed to score at races. Previously, there were no limits to team sizes, allowing coaches to recruit and develop athletes freely to field the best team possible. Now, teams are limited to just 17 runners. Anyone who has been part of a collegiate or high school cross country team understands how restrictive this number is.

Cross country athletes often take years to develop into critical contributors. Many begin their collegiate careers on second or third squads before working their way up. The gap between top high schoolers and elite collegiate runners is wide, with only the most outstanding recruits making an immediate impact during their freshman year.

With these new limits, coaches will be forced to focus recruitment on athletes who can make an instant impact. They may no longer take chances on developing athletes who need more time. As a result, many promising runners who would have previously been recruited and nurtured will now miss out on the opportunity to grow within a college program.

What this means: You’re going to see a significant decrease in walk-on level athletes on NCAA D-I rosters.

Impact on Track and Field Specialization

The roster size limitation also extends to track and field, where only 45 athletes are allowed per team. With 22 outdoor events in NCAA track and field, this averages just two athletes per event. As a result, teams may become more specialized, focusing on a narrower range of events while potentially fielding no athletes in others.

Alternatively, this also increases the value of versatile athletes who can compete across multiple events. However, it may hinder athletes from pursuing event-specific excellence or breaking NCAA records, as they could be required to spread themselves across multiple disciplines. The broader impact? Some future greats may never get their shot.

Consider the story of Carter Christman, who arrived at the University of Oregon as a walk-on. A very modest high schooler by Oregon recruitment standards, he steadily developed within the program, eventually becoming a national scorer for the Ducks cross country squad. His rise wasn’t the result of a one-season breakthrough — it was the product of time, development, and a program willing to invest in long-term potential.

With stricter roster limits, stories like Christman's may become increasingly rare. Programs will have fewer opportunities to bring in high-upside athletes who aren’t yet ready to score, and the sport could lose some of the development arcs that once made collegiate track and field so dynamic.

Brett Montrose

With the adoption of capped roster sizes and limitless scholarship slots, making the leap from high school directly to a Division I powerhouse may have become more challenging for recruits, but that doesn’t change the fact that there are still NCAA D-I teams without roster caps that have athletic and academic scholarships available and coaches at the helm who are strong recruiters.

If you’re a parent/guardian or soon-to-be recruit, do not let these rule changes hinder your progress. When it comes to recruiting, I recommend:

• Exploring event versatility. Read my recent article on the topic here: One Big Tip for High School Track & Field Athletes Targeting NCAA Division I Recruitment.
• Being open to non-Power schools in your search for a fit. Division I alone is home to over 300 schools with amazing track and field/cross country programs, many of which have elite facilities and top-notch academic pathways. At the end of the day, even if you’re not competing in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, or ACC, you can still qualify for the same NCAA D-I championship meets - in XC, indoor, and outdoor seasons - as athletes on Power rosters.
• Considering U SPORTS, Division II, Division III, NAIA, and JuCo (NJCAA) programs as well.
• Booking some time with me to discuss your recruitment journey. Together, we’ll build a personalized recruitment plan to guide you each step of the way and we’ll do so with focus on athletics, academics, location, and your financial situation. Book your recruitment advising session with me here.

With New NCAA Division I Roster & Scholarship Rules in Place, What Comes Next?

These changes are new and evolving. As rosters shrink and scholarships expand, families and coaches alike will need to monitor how individual programs react to the new landscape in real time. Streamline Athletes will continue to break down what this means.