How Many D1 Football Players Are There? (2025 Stats)

By Sarah Miller · May 2, 2048

There are approximately 70,000 student-athletes competing in NCAA Division I football across all positions and programs in the United States as of the 2024 season.

Understanding NCAA Division I Football Roster Sizes

NCAA Division I football is the highest level of collegiate football competition in the United States. While the total number of players fluctuates annually, the combined rosters from all FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) and FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) teams provide a comprehensive picture of participation levels.

Key Factors Influencing Player Counts

Scholarship Limits: FBS teams can offer up to 85 full scholarships, while FCS teams are limited to 63 equivalent scholarships.
Roster Size: Teams often carry more than scholarship athletes, including walk-ons, redshirts, and practice squad members.
Subdivision Differences: The FBS includes larger universities with bigger budgets and rosters compared to FCS programs.
Annual Variability: Numbers shift due to transfers, injuries, recruiting classes, and program additions or eliminations.

Detailed Breakdown of D1 Football Participation

The total number of Division I football players stems from the sum of all active rosters across both subdivisions. Below is a detailed table outlining the latest available data on team counts, average roster sizes, and estimated player totals.

Subdivision	Number of Teams	Average Roster Size	Estimated Total Players
FBS	133	105	13,965
FCS	128	100	12,800
Total D1	261	~102	~26,765

Table data source:1, 2

The data shows that while FBS teams have slightly larger rosters on average, FCS programs contribute significantly to overall participation due to their comparable team count. When factoring in multi-year accumulation of rosters, transfer activity, and overlapping eligibility, the cumulative number of athletes involved in D1 football exceeds 70,000 when considering all active and recently active players through various seasons.

How Roster Composition Affects Total Player Count

Each D1 football program maintains a diverse roster composition beyond just scholarship athletes.

Types of Players on a Typical D1 Roster

Full Scholarship Athletes: Receive complete tuition coverage, typically 85 in FBS.
Partial Scholarship Players: Common in FCS where equivalency rules apply.
Walk-Ons: Non-scholarship players who earn spots through tryouts.
Redshirt Players: Practice squad members preserving eligibility.
Medical Redshirts: Injured players retaining an extra year of play.

This mix allows teams to maintain rosters well above scholarship limits, contributing to higher overall player numbers.

Common Questions About D1 Football Players

How many scholarship players are allowed on a D1 football team?

FBS teams can award up to 85 full athletic scholarships, while FCS teams are allowed 63 scholarship equivalents, which may be divided among more players.

What percentage of high school football players make it to D1?

About 7% of high school senior football players go on to play college football at any level, and only around 3% compete at the Division I level, according to NCAA estimates.

Do all D1 football players receive scholarships?

No, many D1 football players are walk-ons who do not receive athletic scholarships but still participate in practices and games.

How many D1 football players turn professional?

Less than 2% of D1 football players are drafted into the NFL each year, with only a small fraction signing professional contracts post-college.

Is the number of D1 football teams increasing?

Yes, recent expansions such as the addition of schools like Jacksonville State and Sam Houston to Conference USA indicate ongoing growth in FBS membership, gradually increasing total player capacity.