Will the addition of NESCAC going into potential playoffs either in 2025 or 2026 have an impact on roster sizes. I was also told that teams going into the D3 playoffs have to bring a reduced roster. Has anyone else heard these same conditions and playoff roster adjustments ?

I think the playoff roster is 58? NCAA rule

There is a roster limit for the D-3 playoffs.  Primarily because the NCAA pays for travel to these games.  Buses are used for travel up to 500 miles or so.  While North Central and Mount Union only had 58 on the sidelines for the Stagg Bowl, these school likely have up to 150 players or so on the team.  This results in significant depth for these programs. 

Quote from: Charlie on January 08, 2025, 12:22:12 PMWill the addition of NESCAC going into potential playoffs either in 2025 or 2026 have an impact on roster sizes. I was also told that teams going into the D3 playoffs have to bring a reduced roster. Has anyone else heard these same conditions and playoff roster adjustments ?

Only 58 players can suit up for an NCAA playoff game. All players can practice throughout the playoffs. If a team plays in multiple playoff games, then the 58 players do not have to be the same for each playoff game.

If a team makes the Stagg Bowl, only 58 players can practice once they leave campus for the Stagg Bowl site.

Obviously, you need well more than 58 players to get through a regular season. The 58-man roster limit is about finances, since the NCAA pays for travel. There are similar limits in other sports.

https://x.com/WalterCampFF/status/1877068197393768466/photo/1

Congratulations to all the players including the 3 NESCAC Players who made Walter Camp's first ever Div. 3 All-American Team.

Our sources tell us that the NESCAC 84-man roster limit for 2025 is currently in effect. With that being said, we also hear that it will be challenged, especially with the NESCAC's participation in the D3 play-offs looming in the near future.

NM

Quote from: Nescacman on January 08, 2025, 03:21:28 PMOur sources tell us that the NESCAC 84-man roster limit for 2025 is currently in effect. With that being said, we also hear that it will be challenged, especially with the NESCAC's participation in the D3 play-offs looming in the near future.

NM

W&L's roster over the years has fluctuated between the very high 70s and the mid 80s. While it's almost always one of the smallest rosters in the ODAC, it's not an unusual roster size for schools that are less tuition dependent. While W&L hasn't been a national player, they consistently challenged for the ODAC over the last 15 years, winning several conference titles.

Schools with rosters in the 125 and up range tend to be schools that require those students to cover bills. UMHB, UMU, NCC... massive rosters, great success. Other schools, Guilford, Methodist and many more come to mind, massive rosters, no appreciable success. It's not the roster size. What do you do with 150 football players unless you have a massive staff to lead them? And schools with those rosters often have huge amounts of turnover as freshman classes of 60-90 students realize there is no way the vast majority will ever see the field.

Johns Hopkins roster was just under 90 this season, and I believe they've consistently been in the mid to high 80s over the years. They are regularly a playoff team and this year just got pipped by UMU in semis.

There is no reason a roster in the mid 80s can't challenge at the D3 level.

While theoretically a team with 80 players can challenge in the D3 playoffs, certainly John Hopkins demonstrated that it could get deep into the playoffs this year.  However, it takes depth to play a 15 game schedule.  I recall a playoff game between Wabash and Wisconsin Whitewater a few years ago that was close deep into the 3rd quarter.  However, in the later stages of that game, Whitewater's greater depth let them put fresh legs on the field late in the game and that made the difference. Whitewater also had a D-1 transfer at wide receiver that went on to play with the Green Bay Packers.  His talent, speed and height eventually wore down the Wabash defensive backs, and while that starting defensive backs had some success early, there wasn't enough depth to keep fresh legs on the field the whole game.

Quote from: VoodooDoc on January 09, 2025, 09:39:04 AMWhile theoretically a team with 80 players can challenge in the D3 playoffs, certainly John Hopkins demonstrated that it could get deep into the playoffs this year.  However, it takes depth to play a 15 game schedule.  I recall a playoff game between Wabash and Wisconsin Whitewater a few years ago that was close deep into the 3rd quarter.  However, in the later stages of that game, Whitewater's greater depth let them put fresh legs on the field late in the game and that made the difference.

Just a point to note: In those days, the WIAC was limited by rule to 100 people on a roster.

https://x.com/LogHanRatings/status/1877353978498875601/photo/1
https://x.com/LogHanRatings/status/1877353978498875601/photo/2

Congratulations to those on Logan Hanson's Analytics All-Region D3 Football Teams for Region 1

Quote from: GroundandPound on January 09, 2025, 11:45:39 AMhttps://x.com/LogHanRatings/status/1877353978498875601/photo/1
https://x.com/LogHanRatings/status/1877353978498875601/photo/2

Congratulations to those on Logan Hanson's Analytics All-Region D3 Football Teams for Region 1

Great to see the NESCAC so well represented. Congratulations to all of the student-athletes. Speaks to the high quality of the league across the board this year. Some head scratchers starting with Koy Price being selected as a DB, but we digress.

NM

Agree NM but it can be hard to assign a position to Price and I think that's where some of these "All Star" teams are superficial and miss a lot of deserving players. Price has played Corner, Nickel, SSafety, LB inside behind 3 technique, SS, MLB and then OLB and DE on the edge.

He's a true Hybrid in kind of an unprecedented way.....I just think they have trouble placing him in a specific position.

Maybe they need to create a new position for Price.....how about GW = "Game Wrecker"
 
The best defensive player in the league- hands down. And that comes from a Bates guy. Everybody scratched their heads about the big plays made by the Bowdoin D. Much of it is clearly attributable to the boom or bust gambling scheme but the X factor was Price. Without him they would gotten killed with that gambling scheme but they had a fantastic playmaker on that D and he's THE reason they had success.

Young up at Colby was a very good one also but not even close to Price. In fact, Young was the best LB at Colby but only by a whisker. Keep the name Sebastian Romain in your notes for next year for the underachieving Mules.

If we're talking NESCAC linebackers don't overlook Ryan Rozich at Bates. Went unoticed by many but clearly one of the best in NESCAC this year. He has 2 years to go. If any doubt check the Wesleyan tape. He separated Cards WR from the Football on a hospital ball thrown across the middle with a memorable hit late in the game that influenced the outcome against the NESCAC champs.

Some good ones coming back in the CBB along with the rest of the league. Look forward to next year.

Quote from: lumbercat on January 09, 2025, 07:50:21 PMAgree NM but it can be hard to assign a position to Price and I think that's where some of these "All Star" teams are superficial and miss a lot of deserving players. Price has played Corner, Nickel, SSafety, LB inside behind 3 technique, SS, MLB and then OLB and DE on the edge.

He's a true Hybrid in kind of an unprecedented way.....I just think they have trouble placing him in a specific position.

Maybe they need to create a new position for Price.....how about GW = "Game Wrecker"
 
The best defensive player in the league- hands down. And that comes from a Bates guy. Everybody scratched their heads about the big plays made by the Bowdoin D. Much of it is clearly attributable to the boom or bust gambling scheme but the X factor was Price. Without him they would gotten killed with that gambling scheme but they had a fantastic playmaker on that D and he's THE reason they had success.

Young up at Colby was a very good one also but not even close to Price. In fact, Young was the best LB at Colby by only be a whisker. Keep the name Sebastian Romain in your notes for next year for the underachieving Mules.

If we're talking NESCAC linebackers don't overlook Ryan Rozich at Bates. Went unoticed by many but clearly one of the best in NESCAC this year. He has 2 years to go. If any doubt check the Wesleyan tape. He separated Cards WR from the Football on a hospital ball thrown across the middle with a memorable hit late in the game that influenced the outcome against the NESCAC champs.

Some good ones coming back in the CBB along with the rest of the league. Look forward to next year.

Aside from Lynskey at bates this year seems the be the first yeae in my memory where there are this few consensus "superstar" players coming back across the league.

Quote from: NESCACFball24/7 on January 09, 2025, 09:53:47 PM

Quote from: lumbercat on January 09, 2025, 07:50:21 PMAgree NM but it can be hard to assign a position to Price and I think that's where some of these "All Star" teams are superficial and miss a lot of deserving players. Price has played Corner, Nickel, SSafety, LB inside behind 3 technique, SS, MLB and then OLB and DE on the edge.

He's a true Hybrid in kind of an unprecedented way.....I just think they have trouble placing him in a specific position.

Maybe they need to create a new position for Price.....how about GW = "Game Wrecker"
 
The best defensive player in the league- hands down. And that comes from a Bates guy. Everybody scratched their heads about the big plays made by the Bowdoin D. Much of it is clearly attributable to the boom or bust gambling scheme but the X factor was Price. Without him they would gotten killed with that gambling scheme but they had a fantastic playmaker on that D and he's THE reason they had success.

Young up at Colby was a very good one also but not even close to Price. In fact, Young was the best LB at Colby by only be a whisker. Keep the name Sebastian Romain in your notes for next year for the underachieving Mules.

If we're talking NESCAC linebackers don't overlook Ryan Rozich at Bates. Went unoticed by many but clearly one of the best in NESCAC this year. He has 2 years to go. If any doubt check the Wesleyan tape. He separated Cards WR from the Football on a hospital ball thrown across the middle with a memorable hit late in the game that influenced the outcome against the NESCAC champs.

Some good ones coming back in the CBB along with the rest of the league. Look forward to next year.

Aside from Lynskey at bates this year seems the be the first yeae in my memory where there are this few consensus "superstar" players coming back across the league.

On the defensive side of the ball, we'd argue that the Lord Mammoth's Harmon and Wesleyan's Connors belong in the discussion with UBates Ryan. Harmon and Connors are our early picks to challenge for NESCAC DPOTY in 2025.

Quote from: lumbercat on January 09, 2025, 07:50:21 PMAgree NM but it can be hard to assign a position to Price and I think that's where some of these "All Star" teams are superficial and miss a lot of deserving players. Price has played Corner, Nickel, SSafety, LB inside behind 3 technique, SS, MLB and then OLB and DE on the edge.

He's a true Hybrid in kind of an unprecedented way.....I just think they have trouble placing him in a specific position.

Maybe they need to create a new position for Price.....how about GW = "Game Wrecker"
 
The best defensive player in the league- hands down. And that comes from a Bates guy. Everybody scratched their heads about the big plays made by the Bowdoin D. Much of it is clearly attributable to the boom or bust gambling scheme but the X factor was Price. Without him they would gotten killed with that gambling scheme but they had a fantastic playmaker on that D and he's THE reason they had success.

Young up at Colby was a very good one also but not even close to Price. In fact, Young was the best LB at Colby by only be a whisker. Keep the name Sebastian Romain in your notes for next year for the underachieving Mules.

If we're talking NESCAC linebackers don't overlook Ryan Rozich at Bates. Went unoticed by many but clearly one of the best in NESCAC this year. He has 2 years to go. If any doubt check the Wesleyan tape. He separated Cards WR from the Football on a hospital ball thrown across the middle with a memorable hit late in the game that influenced the outcome against the NESCAC champs.

Some good ones coming back in the CBB along with the rest of the league. Look forward to next year.

Koy's a terrific young man who had a great year and career for the Polars. As far as positional assignment, DL or LB-"yes"...DB-"no"...just because he periodically dropped into pass coverage doesn't qualify him as a DB. Question, was #56 LT a DB just because he occasionally dropped into coverage instead of terrorizing QB's? Koy occasionally dropping into coverage was purely a scheme thing.

Although Koy had a great year, we're not sure that he was the best defensive player in the NESCAC this year. The DPOTY in the league, as voted by the coaches (and the coaches can not vote for their own players), was the Cardinals Ben Carbeau. Ben certainly belongs in the discussion as the leader of the league's best defense in 2024. Let's not lose sight of the Polars big picture as far as team defense is concerned (9th in team defense). Ben gets our vote.

With that being said, without Koy around, it could be a long year in Brunswick for the Polars defense in 2025.

NM