House settlement explained

Roster Limits & New Eligibility Rules

How the changes to D1 rosters, scholarships and eligibility affect high school soccer recruits. Rules checked Oct 22, 2026. Rules change, so confirm details on the linked sources and with each school's compliance office. This is general guidance, not legal or eligibility advice.

What changed

Starting in 2025-26, D1 schools in the House settlement have a 28-player roster limit in men's soccer and in women's soccer, and they can give athletic aid to any or all of those players. That's up to 18.1 more aid spots than the old men's limit (9.9) and 14 more than the old women's limit (14), but schools decide how much to fund.

Not every D1 school works the same way

  • Schools that didn't opt in aren't bound by the 28-player limit; their roster size is set by the conference or school. They can give up to the 2024-25 aid limits (9.9 equivalencies for men, 14 for women) without triggering the settlement rules.
  • Designated student-athletes (players already on rosters or promised spots before the cutoff) don't count toward the limit, so some rosters can be above 28 for a few years.
  • A 28-player cap can mean fewer walk-on spots. Ask every D1 coach: "Did your school opt in? How many roster spots and how much aid do you expect for my class?"

The new D1 eligibility clock (adopted June 2026)

  • Division I now allows up to five years of eligibility, starting when you first enroll full time at any college or at the start of the academic year after your 19th birthday, whichever comes first.
  • It applies to anyone who first enrolls full time in fall 2027 or later. Students who first enroll in 2026-27 get whichever rule is better for them.
  • Why it matters for soccer: a gap year, an academy or professional-pathway year, or reclassifying can use up part of your five years.

Division II and Division III

  • Division II adopted the same age-based model in August 2026.
  • Division III has not adopted it; a proposal is on the 2027 NCAA Convention agenda.

Sources (checked Oct 22, 2026)

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