More players could soon suit up for the Oklahoma Sooners and other Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision schools across the country.
There was a limit of 110 student-athletes who may engage in practice activities before the school’s first day of classes or before the fifth day before the school’s first game, whichever occurs earlier.
But that will change for the 2024 season.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the NCAA is issuing a blanket waiver for FBS and FCS teams to increase the preseason practice/fall camp roster from 110 to 120 players. The temporary waiver will be in effect for this season, and the Football Oversight Committee and D1 Council will consider a permanent policy this summer.
The NCAA is issuing a blanket waiver for FBS and FCS teams to increase the preseason practice/fall camp roster from 110 to 120 players, sources tell @YahooSports.
It’s effective for the 2024 season but FB Oversight and D1 Council will consider a permanent policy this summer.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) March 15, 2024
In addition to that change, the NCAA said, the waiver will start the process of removing the rule that allows the replacement of a student-athlete. Spring practice is underway across the country as teams prepare for the 2024 season. There’s also a transfer portal window set to open in April, and the expectation is there will be plenty of movement when that time comes.
It’s unclear why this change was implemented now and if it means more scholarship players or 10 additional walk-ons. I would assume it’s more walk-ons but it isn’t clear if that is the case.
For Oklahoma, this could mean it gets very active in the transfer portal. If it can get guys to help on the field, that would be preferred, but I could see Oklahoma going after good veteran locker room guys. Maybe that’s a former captain or something of that nature.
It could also mean some guys you thought would hit the portal or that Oklahoma was going to push toward the portal due to a numbers crunch, no longer will. For now, we have to wait and see.
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