Lane Kiffin takes a stand for the walk-ons! The NCAA, in meetings, has suggested considering trimming walk-ons from rosters altogether, a move driven by cost-cutting. This proposal has struck a nerve with coaches, particularly those in the powerful SEC conference.

A walk-on refers to a player who becomes part of a team without being recruited or awarded an athletic scholarship.

Last month, a united front of SEC coaches, including Kiffin, met with their superiors to support the cause of walk-ons. Notably, Georgia’s Kirby Smart, who recently secured a substantial raise to $13 million annually, spearheaded the effort. Kiffin joined the movement, demonstrating the power of their collective voice, even offering a financial sacrifice.

“The coaches agreed we would pay out of our own salary,” Kiffin said, according to The Athletic. Kiffin himself earns a substantial $9 million a year, and it is no surprise coming from him. But beyond finances, Kiffin also noted “major concerns on a lot of fronts” regarding the proposed roster limits. 

The new rules aim to shrink rosters significantly, reducing them from the current 120 players to only 85-95. Kiffin argues that this number is dangerously low for a physically demanding sport like football, where injuries are commonplace. He warns teams could struggle to field healthy players by the season’s end. Kiffin also cited the Florida State situation from last year’s bowl game as a cautionary tale. Missing 21 players, the Seminoles were left severely depleted and suffered a crushing defeat to Georgia.

The Ole Miss Rebels head coach adds to the narrative, saying, “The move now is people have started to not play in bowl games so they don’t get hurt to go in the portal.” Thus, it may overall lead to a less competitive bowl season. While Kiffin paints a bleak picture of limited rosters, the NCAA’s response suggests cost isn’t the sole factor at play. 

Glare on the NCAA’s new move

A court case (House vs NCAA) is causing big changes in college football. The lawsuit argued for athletes to get a fair share of the billions generated by them through the NCAA. Even thousands of former athletes are now getting their due compensation. To cover these potential payouts, the NCAA is looking to cut costs. While coaches like Lane Kiffin offered to take pay cuts to keep walk-ons, the NCAA seems focused on a different threat — lawsuits.

Thus, their primary plan is to eliminate scholarship limits and raise the athletes’ payouts while also reducing roster sizes. This “pay more, pay less” approach saves money. Also, according to the NCAA, it helps them avoid future “anti-trust lawsuits” from lawyers who are already targeting them over athlete compensation. While coaches are ready to offer sacrifices, it seems the NCAA is prioritizing legal defense over that.