How To Get A Football Degree: Your Ultimate Guide 2025

Are you aiming for a football degree and a scholarship to match? This comprehensive guide breaks down the requirements, offers insights, and provides actionable strategies to help you achieve your goals. Find the answers you need at CAUHOI2025.UK.COM and start your journey today with expert advice and information on college football scholarships, athletic eligibility, and academic criteria.

New NCAA Football Scholarship Limits
How Many Scholarships Are Given Each Year for Football?
Football Scholarship Requirements
How Many Scholarships Do Division 1 Football Teams Get?
How Many Scholarships Do Division 2 Football Teams Get?
NCAA Football Scholarships vs. NAIA Football Scholarships
How To Get A Football Scholarship
Do Walk-Ons Get A Scholarship?
Committable Offer vs. Non-Committable Offer
Offers Through Social Media
How Many College Football Players Are There?
How Many Players Can Be On A College Football Team?
How Hard Is It To Get A Football Scholarship?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. New NCAA Football Scholarship Limits

Big changes are on the horizon! Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, the NCAA is considering eliminating Division 1 scholarship limits, pending approval of a proposed settlement. This could allow for more flexible scholarship distribution across all sports. This shift is poised to significantly impact college football recruiting.

These changes would impact football recruits in the following ways:

D1 FBS football programs will be allowed to offer up to 105 scholarships, up from the current limit of 85.
D1 FBS football programs will have a maximum roster limit of 105.
D1 FBS football, once a headcount sport, will now be classified as an equivalency sport. This change allows programs to offer a combination of partial and full scholarships to recruits.

These are the maximum limits the NCAA allows. Schools aren’t required to meet these numbers.

2. How Many Scholarships Are Given Each Year for Football?

Thousands of football scholarships are awarded annually. The exact number can vary because not every program is fully funded or able to offer the maximum allowed scholarships.
Here’s a breakdown:

Division Level	Number of Teams	Total Athletes in Division	Average Team Size	Current ScholarshipLimit	2025-26 ScholarshipLimit*	2025-26 RosterLimit*	Scholarship Type*
D1 FBS	130	18,518	142.4	85	105	105	Equivalency (Starting in 2025-26)
D1 FCS	125	14,837	118.7	63	63	N/A	Equivalency
D2	167	26,429	125.8	36	36	N/A	Equivalency
D3	242	26,429	109.2	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
NAIA	93	9,102	107	24	24	N/A	Equivalency
JUCO	54	5,160	76	85	85	N/A	Equivalency
CCCAA	70	5,354	79	N/A	N/A	N/A	Equivalency

*If NCAA proposed settlement is approved

College football teams often extend more offers than they have available. They anticipate some players will sign elsewhere or not stay all four years. To manage the roster, teams use different types of offers:

Redshirt: A scholarship athlete who doesn’t compete for a year, allowing them four seasons of play in five years.
Blueshirt: Similar to a redshirt, but the athlete must be unrecruited. They practice with the team but can’t play for a year.
Grayshirt: The athlete postpones full-time enrollment and team participation for one semester.
Greenshirt: The athlete enrolls a semester early and participates with the team.

It’s important to stay in touch with coaches and ask about their plans for walk-ons and redshirts.

3. Football Scholarship Requirements

To get a football scholarship, athletes must meet both athletic and academic criteria. Athletic criteria are determined by each school’s football program. Coaches evaluate athletes based on their needs.

The NCAA Eligibility Center sets specific academic requirements to compete at the D1 or D2 levels. Here are the D1 requirements:

Graduate from high school.
Complete 16 core courses with a minimum GPA of 2.3.
The core course requirements are as follows: four years of English; three years of math (Algebra 1 or higher); two years of science (including one year of lab, if offered); two years of social science; and four additional years of English, math, science, religion, philosophy, or foreign language. Athletes need to complete 10 of their 16 core courses before junior year of high school.
Athletes need to complete 10 of their 16 core courses by the end of their junior year of high school.

Meeting or exceeding D1 requirements typically ensures eligibility at the D2 level.

4. How Many Scholarships Do Division 1 Football Teams Get?

If the NCAA settlement is approved, Division 1 FBS teams can award up to 105 scholarships starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Division 1 FCS programs can offer up to 63 scholarships. The 105 FBS scholarships will become equivalency scholarships, allowing coaches to split them into partial awards. The 63 FCS scholarships are also equivalency scholarships. Each program will adapt differently, so stay informed and discuss potential impacts with college coaches.

5. How Many Scholarships Do Division 2 Football Teams Get?

NCAA D2 schools can offer 36 full or partial scholarships annually. Because football teams have large rosters, most D2 programs divide scholarship money among more players.

6. NCAA Football Scholarships vs. NAIA Football Scholarships

The NCAA and NAIA govern college sports with different approaches to football scholarships and recruiting.

NCAA football scholarships are available at D1 and D2 schools. D3 colleges do not offer athletic scholarships. Athletes must meet NCAA eligibility requirements, including amateurism certification. The NCAA enforces recruiting rules and calendars for D1 and D2 levels.

NAIA football scholarships can be awarded by fully funded member colleges. The NAIA has its academic eligibility criteria but lacks set recruiting rules like the NCAA.

Scholarships are offered on a year-to-year basis, so more can be rescinded in the coming seasons if a program’s budget is cut or rosters become jam-packed with upperclassmen. This doesn’t mean recruits should necessarily take the first offer they get, but they should not wait too long. Sometimes a direct but polite conversation with the college coach is the best way to determine if a recruit is still wanted.

7. How To Get A Football Scholarship

Earning a scholarship depends on the coach’s decision. Athletes must demonstrate the ability to make an immediate impact or show potential for development. Finding the right athletic division is crucial. An athlete eligible for D1 might have more impact at a D2 or NAIA school, leading to more money and playing time. Recruits must also meet academic eligibility requirements for the NCAA and/or NAIA, and comply with the school’s specific entrance requirements.

8. Do Walk-Ons Get A Scholarship?

Walk-ons don’t receive athletic scholarships but play important roles on the team.

In 2025-2026, the NCAA will implement a new rule for FBS programs, removing the scholarship cap and setting a roster limit of 105 players. While it’s still uncertain how this will affect walk-ons, it may change how scholarships are distributed within these teams. For D1 FCS programs, the scholarship limit will remain the same, and there will be no cap on roster size, so walk-ons will continue to play an important role as they always have.

Consider speaking with coaches about their plans if you’re considering becoming a walk-on.

9. Committable Offer vs. Non-Committable Offer

D1 football programs often extend verbal offers to multiple athletes at the same position. Coaches expect to lose some recruits to other programs, academic ineligibility, or other factors. Some programs extend over 100 offers per recruiting class. When receiving a verbal offer, ask the coach where you stand on their recruit list. If you’re not a top priority, continue exploring other schools.

10. Offers Through Social Media

College coaches, especially at the D1 level, now commonly send “official offers” via social media. These offers are non-legally binding verbal offers until you sign with the school. Contact the coach to clarify the scholarship details, your position on their recruit list, and the decision deadline.

11. How Many College Football Players Are There?

There are approximately 77,000 college football players at NCAA-member schools, as reported by the NCAA.

12. How Many Players Can Be On A College Football Team?

The number of players on a college football team varies:

NCAA Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS): Starting in the 2025-2026 season, teams will have a roster cap of 105 players, including walk-ons (non-scholarship players).
NCAA Division 1 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS): 63 scholarship players, with the total roster size and number of walk-ons varying.
NCAA Division 2: Typically ranges from 75 to 100 players, including walk-ons.
NCAA Division 3: Can vary widely, often ranging from 75 to 100 players, including walk-ons.
NAIA: Usually around 80 to 100 players, including walk-ons.
Junior Colleges (NJCAA): Teams can have up to 85 players on the roster, with a maximum of 55 dressed for any given game.

13. How Hard Is It To Get A Football Scholarship?

Earning a football scholarship is difficult due to limited availability and high competition. Focus on improving athletic performance, maintaining strong academics, and actively engaging in the recruiting process.

14. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What GPA do I need to get a football scholarship?
A1: A minimum GPA of 2.3 in 16 core courses is required by the NCAA for D1 eligibility.

Q2: How can I improve my chances of getting a football scholarship?
A2: Focus on athletic performance, maintain strong grades, and actively engage in the recruiting process.

Q3: What are the new NCAA scholarship limits for football?
A3: Starting in 2025-2026, D1 FBS programs may be allowed to offer up to 105 scholarships, while D1 FCS programs can offer up to 63.

Q4: Do D3 schools offer football scholarships?
A4: No, NCAA D3 schools do not offer athletic scholarships.

Q5: What is an equivalency scholarship?
A5: An equivalency scholarship allows coaches to split scholarships into partial awards across the team.

Q6: How important are academics for a football scholarship?
A6: Academics are crucial. You must meet NCAA and school-specific entrance requirements.

Q7: What should I do if I get a social media offer?
A7: Contact the coach immediately to clarify the scholarship details, your position on their recruit list, and the decision deadline.

Q8: Are walk-ons important to college football teams?
A8: Yes, walk-ons play crucial roles and are often essential to filling out the roster.

Q9: What is a redshirt in college football?
A9: A redshirt is a scholarship athlete who doesn’t compete for a year, allowing them four seasons of play in five years.

Q10: How many college football players are there in the USA?
A10: There are approximately 77,000 college football players that participate in college athletics at NCAA-member schools.

Are you ready to take the next step towards achieving your football dreams? Visit CAUHOI2025.UK.COM for more information, expert advice, and resources to help you navigate the recruiting process and secure a football scholarship. Contact us today at +1 (800) 555-0199 or visit our “Contact” page to ask questions and get personalized guidance from our team. Our address is Equitable Life Building, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10004, USA. Let CauHoi2025.UK.COM be your trusted partner in achieving your goals.