Marcus Freeman’s Concerns Force Notre Dame AD to Pull the Unthinkable Against NCAA’s $20.5M Cap

The college football world is literally piping hot at 100 degrees Celsius. On the one hand, the NCAA rulings related to the NIL have left the industry divided. Players’ unbridled movement across the teams on very short notice, based on just a bigger paycheck, made the mix an uneven affair. It disrupts the stability and growth of teams with fewer resources. Also, it dismissed the concept of ethics, academics, and culture among the newbies; all they look for is money. Another inclusion of the modern evaluation of the CFB is the House vs. NCAA settlement that has introduced full-blown revenue sharing to college football. However, Notre Dame AD drops a bombshell that can soothe the tension among the Irish a bit.

The rule is meant to ruin the traditional scholarship cap, enabling the schools to pay directly. However, as a byproduct, it imposes a 105-roster limit on each of the FBS schools. So, what will be the future for the current players? A debate to chew over. The revision to the settlement, however, permits (not requires) schools to exempt current athletes from impending roster limits. However, the judge in charge of the case, Claudia Wilken, announced that she won’t pass the law unless and until any grandfather clause is introduced to safeguard athletes in danger of losing their roster spots. Finally, Notre Dame agreed to play the big man.

Notre Dame athletics director Pete Bevacqua told Yahoo Sports that the school will “honor the roster spot of all current athletes and permit those who were cut this year to return.” According to Ross Dellenger, this officially made them the first school to ‘grandfather in’ those who were affected or might be affected.

Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua, long a proponent of phasing in roster limits, tells @YahooSports that the school will honor the roster spot of all current athletes and permit those who were cut this year to return, becoming first school to commit to fully grandfathering-in athletes.

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) May 8, 2025

It will immune a flurry of walk-ons from the Irish camp who fell victim to the law.

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