When the NCAA was founded in 1906 (as the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States) there were no discussions about paying players, transfers, or redshirt years. At the time, schools could offer scholarships to as many players as they could afford. It wouldn’t be until 1973 that they actually set a limit on roster size for football teams. The restrictive 105 scholarship limit was a reaction to Title IX passed by Congress the previous year in an effort to free up some of the scholarship money for female athletes. The numbers would be adjusted again in 1978 down to 95 and finally in 1992 to the current 85 scholarship limit.
Getting Loud: Welcome to College Free Agency
