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Why not an NFL size roster?
Posted on 1/12/26 at 6:56 am
Posted on 1/12/26 at 6:56 am
NFL teams carry 56 players (including Specialists) along with 5 practice squad players. Essentially, that’s 50 position players, which is basically a 2-deep only.
IMO, there is no point even signing “diamonds in the rough” to fill out recruiting classes or to “build depth”. If NFL teams can play an 18 game regular season (plus playoffs for some), then it should certainly be plausible to do the same at the collegiate level.
That should afford Bama (or any other team that did the same) a much larger pool of money to spend on just 50 players, and concentrate your funds primarily on the 30 best players (starters).
Seems like that would free up a large % of NIL funds. That might would allow Bama to compete with the Nike and Oil money programs (at least make the gap more manageable).
For example, reportedly, Cole Adams was making (roughly) 60K, same with guys like Jalen Hale. If you take that as a baseline number, and remove 30 players making that same amount, plus the guys making significantly more but do not contribute anything. (for example Mbakwe was making 700K ), then that would free up a significant amount of money.
That seems very logical to me and a viable strategy that would at least close the gap to a degree financially.
I do not see any downside…. If 52 position players is enough for an NFL roster then it should be for college as well (use the other scholarships for PWO’s for practice purposes).
IMO, there is no point even signing “diamonds in the rough” to fill out recruiting classes or to “build depth”. If NFL teams can play an 18 game regular season (plus playoffs for some), then it should certainly be plausible to do the same at the collegiate level.
That should afford Bama (or any other team that did the same) a much larger pool of money to spend on just 50 players, and concentrate your funds primarily on the 30 best players (starters).
Seems like that would free up a large % of NIL funds. That might would allow Bama to compete with the Nike and Oil money programs (at least make the gap more manageable).
For example, reportedly, Cole Adams was making (roughly) 60K, same with guys like Jalen Hale. If you take that as a baseline number, and remove 30 players making that same amount, plus the guys making significantly more but do not contribute anything. (for example Mbakwe was making 700K ), then that would free up a significant amount of money.
That seems very logical to me and a viable strategy that would at least close the gap to a degree financially.
I do not see any downside…. If 52 position players is enough for an NFL roster then it should be for college as well (use the other scholarships for PWO’s for practice purposes).
3
Posted on 1/12/26 at 6:59 am to Cover1Key
College teams due to NIL are likely to be only 56 rev share/NIL players with some breakdown among the rest being non rev share walkon types to maximize payout for the players we have to bid on.
Keep this in mind when considering depth moving forward relative to Saban/pre-NIL because it’ll never be that again regardless of coach.
Keep this in mind when considering depth moving forward relative to Saban/pre-NIL because it’ll never be that again regardless of coach.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 7:13 am to tide06
The one difference is the NFL can trade guys up to a certain point in the season.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 7:24 am to Cover1Key
NFL teams carry 53.
Practice squad 16.
Can trade up until 9 or 10 weeks into the season.
Can get players other teams cut off of waivers.
Practice squad 16.
Can trade up until 9 or 10 weeks into the season.
Can get players other teams cut off of waivers.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 7:56 am to Night Vision
Looking at Kansas City Chiefs player reports and (minus Specialists) they had just 61 active players over a 20 game season. Only 34 players started at least 1 game. There is no reason to have 85 players on scholarship. Mbakwe/Adams/Hale (not singling out just using as an example) would have freed up close to a million dollars that could’ve been added to what Bama offered Peak (or any other OT) that is desperately needed.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 8:04 am to Cover1Key
Adams was not dead weight, he was never given a fair shake after he got hurt last year.
I'd keep it around 85 or 90 with some walk-on's added in.
Teams that can afford it will buy up the best players so no one else can get them. That won't work forever on the guys that want to start though.
I'd keep it around 85 or 90 with some walk-on's added in.
Teams that can afford it will buy up the best players so no one else can get them. That won't work forever on the guys that want to start though.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 8:31 am to Night Vision
Keeping it at 85-90 means Bama will never get the guys out of the Portal needed to compete at the highest level. The money simply isn’t there (as we are currently witnessing). You have to adopt a different strategy if you cannot compete using traditional methods. No reason to carry a punt returner whose only job is to fair catch the ball (not picking on Cole, it’s just an example). You would never see a precious roster spot on an NFL team used on a punt returner only (only if his name is Devin Hester). That money needs to go to guys like Peak and others along the LOS.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 8:36 am to Cover1Key
What are we doing here? If I want to watch the NFL I'll watch the NFL.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 8:41 am to JIB
Trying to consolidate the NIL funds to concentrate it on higher quality (and more proven) players out of the Portal, as opposed to diluting the money across a 90 man roster where only 35 will see meaningful snaps on Saturday
Posted on 1/12/26 at 9:11 am to Cover1Key
NFL teams can carry 17 players for their practice squad, not five. Also, NFL teams have the ability to retain players while putting them on IR or PUP lists, etc. Now you're probably up to close to 70 players (or more). NFL teams also have the ability to sign and release players during the season, add players to practice squads, etc.
It doesn't work in college.
It doesn't work in college.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 9:22 am to Bham Bammer
Bama could do the same by using the additional 30-35 scholarship spots for PWO’s or guys who are willing to sign for no additional NIL money, just a traditional scholarship. That’s where you could add your “waiver-wire” pickups in case of a rash of injuries to a position group
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