Deep Dives: Potential Impact of 8-Player Roster Limits on SEC Schools

If you've been following the NCAA settlement and its potential impact on college golf, you’re likely aware of the proposed 9-man roster limit for both men's and women's teams. Until now, men’s golf programs were governed solely by a 4.5 scholarship limit, distributed among players at each coach’s discretion. The shift to a 9-player cap, set to begin in Fall 2025, is expected to disrupt rosters nationwide, forcing tough decisions for coaches and possibly displacing committed athletes.

Then, earlier today, Lance Ringler dropped what can only be described as the college golf equivalent of a Woj-Bomb:

A quick analysis of SEC golf rosters via Scoreboard by Clippd and 2025 verbal commits from collegegolfcommits.com reveals the potential displacement of as many as 40 players if the 8-man roster cap takes effect. Below is a detailed breakdown, based on these basic assumptions:

1. Clippd Roster Information & College Golf Commit information is accurate as of publication

2. Current Roster players all move forward by a year going into Fall 2025 (no redshirts, no players leaving early, accelerating through PGATourU, etc)

Players are listed by year along with this fall's Clippd Ranking, where applicable. The tables make no assumption about which players will be displaced, if any, and list the rosters for information purposes only. Note: 2026 Verbal Commits to date are also shown for reference.

University of Alabama - DOWN 2

2026 Commits (2): Bailey Sutter, Phillip Dunham

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University of Arkansas - DOWN 1

2026 Commits (2): Lev Grinberg, Neo Berg

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Auburn University - DOWN 2

2026 Commits (2): Smith Summerlin, Alex Holder

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University of Florida - DOWN 2

2026 Commits (2): Austin Perkins, Jackson Ormond

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University of Georgia - NO IMPACT

2026 Commits (3): Mason Howell, Hamilton Coleman, Drew Woolworth

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University of Kentucky - DOWN 5

2026 Commits (2): Will Judd, Bradford Lacefield

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Lousiana State University - DOWN 2

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Mississippi State University - DOWN 5

2026 Commits (2): Finn Burkholder, Yago Horno Mateo

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University of Missouri - DOWN 1

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University of Oklahoma - DOWN 5

2026 Commits (2): Coltrane Mittag, Max Emberson

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University of Mississippi - DOWN 3

University of South Carolina - DOWN 3

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University of Tennessee - DOWN 3

2026 Commits (2): Tyler Watts, Pennson Badgett

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Texas A&M - DOWN 2

2026 Commits (2): Landon Ashcraft, Owen Bolles

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University of Texas - DOWN 1

2026 Commits (2): Sterling Hurd, Brooks Harper

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Vanderbilt University - DOWN 2

2026 Commits (2): Tyler Mawhinney, Luke Colton