Heartbreaking News for Alabama Football as House Settlement sets In

It took a long time, but a federal judge ultimately authorized the House v. NCAA settlement on Friday night.
The settlement updates the collegiate athletics environment by reimbursing players for damages sustained between 2016 and the present and altering the compensation structure for current athletes.

The adjustments will be huge, according to Greg Byrne, the athletic director at Alabama. The three most significant events in the history of college athletics, according to Byrne, who spoke in an interview with ESPN published on Saturday, are the following: “the House settlement (1953),” the adoption of Title IX (1972) and all the opportunities it created, and the NCAA’s foundation (1905).

Alabama can directly pay players

Alabama and other colleges can now pay athletes, which is the most noticeable change that came from the settlement. Colleges can share money with athletes for the duration of the 10-year deal, with the “cap” increasing annually.
Schools will have access to approximately $20.5 million for the first year, beginning July 1, based on most estimates. Various universities have the option to participate in the entire sum or split it among themselves. The statement from Alabama’s athletic director Greg Byrne states that the team will be spending the entire amount that is allowed. Alabama Athletics has been preparing for this day and making decisions that will put our department in the best position for long-term success, Byrne stated in a social media post on Saturday.

The much-needed future stability can be yours with the House settlement’s approval. “We’re thrilled to expand the already exceptional support our student-athletes receive by providing additional scholarship opportunities and paying for revenue sharing in full.”

More scholarships are coming

Scholarship limits are lifted in all sports as a result of the settlement. Rather, roster restrictions will take precedence.

This opens the door for the Crimson Tide to provide more athletic scholarships. Before the settlement, Byrne had stated his expectation that UA would provide funding for approximately 40 more scholarships.

That’s quite a leap. Nonetheless, it pales in comparison to Georgia and Texas, two of Alabama’s SEC rivals. During an appearance on the Will Cain Show in March, Byrne mentioned that Chris Del Conte, the athletic director at Texas, is a close friend of his. Since they are financially able to do so, they are somewhat unusual in the way they handle the scholarship number.

People here in Alabama think we’re flush, and I’m from there. Sorry, but we just don’t have that kind of leeway. Saying, ‘You’re going have this number of scholarships to work with,’ has been a difficult conversation for some of our coaches. Some schools will have more resources than you have.

Walk-ons are still allowed … for now

During the fiscal year that began on July 1, 2023, and ended on June 30, 2024, 142 Crimson Tide football players participated, as reported in Alabama’s 2024 NCAA income and costs report.
The House settlement would do away with walk-ons, which made up a large portion of them.
Nevertheless, allowing the walk-ons to continue their collegiate careers was the primary obstacle to Wilken agreeing the deal. They are free to stay on the roster of Alabama or any other school for the time being.

The football roster limit is now 105, although Alabama has the option (but not the obligation) to retain any player whose slot was supposed to be cut in order to stay under the restriction, so long as the state provides a list of these players within 30 days. Any player that UA signed for the 2025–26 academic year is also eligible to stay on campus. Kalen DeBoer, head football coach, had brought up the walk-on situation during the SEC spring meetings.

Despite having a complete roster on campus, DeBoer stated in May that many walk-ons still have their names in the system because they need to be ready to adapt. “If the roster size were to be reduced, both we and the guys who are currently playing as walk-ons would have to make some adjustments, but we’re fortunate to have them.”

NIL will change

Revenue sharing is not a sign that NIL is disappearing. Nonetheless, things will probably shift.
Byrne emphasised that the NIL collective of the Crimson Tide will be staying put. Yea Alabama, which Byrne described as “our student-athletes’ distinct benefit,” is “focused on creating authentic NIL opportunities powered by both the Alabama and student-athlete brands,” according to his statement from Saturday.

“Learfield and Crimson Tide Sports Marketing will keep looking for opportunities, both locally and nationally, that will help our student-athletes a lot.” The new mechanism will increase regulation of NIL unless it is challenged in court.

The newly formed College Sports Commission will review any player contracts worth more than $600 with any third party outside of their institution and determine if the terms are reasonable and in line with market values.