Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule has revealed up to 50 Nebraska players are expected to enter the transfer portal next month as the “new world” of college football begins.

The transfer portal has dramatically changed college sports landscape, giving players more freedom of movement between programs. But the next iteration is set to take the to a new level following a landmark legal settlement.

The settlement of House vs. NCAA in October took away the scholarship limit of 85 and instead imposed a blanket 105-player roster limit. The ruling will enable schools to pay their players directly for the first time, but the new rules could dramatically reduce opportunities for walk-on athletes without scholarships.

With the goalposts shifting so dramatically ahead of next season, Rhule expects lots of his players to jump ship in hope of finding more security with another program. He made clear he wants the departing players to stay but accepted it is the new reality of the sport.

“Think this year, we’re going to end up with 30-50 [Nebraska] guys in the portal with the roster [limit]. I don’t want any of them to go into the portal. I want them all to stay here and develop. It’s just the new world we’re in. It’s going to be different.”

Dabo Swinney fears the rule changes will spell the end of walk-ons

Dabo Swinney fears the rule changes will spell the end of walk-ons ( 

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Rhule confirmed defensive back Syncere Safeeullah and wide receiver Malachi Coleman have already informed him of their decisions to transfer elsewhere. Sophomore wideout Coleman played eight games for the Cornhuskers as a freshman but was redshirting this year for development.

“Malachi came in and told us that he was going to go into the portal, so obviously, I wish him the best,” Rhule said. “Great, great young man and a local guy. Had some big moments for us last year.”

The new roster rules were widely slammed by coaches when they were mooted in the summer. Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko said: “I think it’s absolutely against college football, what it stands for and what it’s about.

“I think that would be a major problem, especially when you look at legacies of Texas A&M kids that are going to get the opportunity to play football at Texas A&M potentially taken away from them. I think that’s something really bad for the school.”

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney added: “That’s great for baseball, soccer and some of the sports where you take 11 scholarships and spread it out amongst 30-some guys. But for football, the unintended consequence is it basically eliminates your walk-ons. There’s no coach that wants that.”