SEC expands travel rosters to 74 players after recent AD vote, per league office

Sometime early in the 2023 season or just before it began, the SEC quietly moved to expand the size of travel rosters for teams in conference play.

The league previously limited traveling teams to dressing just 70 players, but a vote by the league’s athletics directors in recent weeks expanded the limit to 74, according to a league spokesman.

That creates additional flexibility for coaches.

“I think in today’s era and climate, I would say, it’s beneficial,” Florida coach Billy Napier said. “I mean I know there are other leagues that carry 80 players. I think the SEC kind of came to an agreement to meet in the middle there at 74. Maybe the Big Ten is at 74 and the ACC is at 80. But I do think the more players that you can keep engaged, the better.”

Napier pointed to one area in particular where the change will benefit SEC teams.

“Special teams is ultimately the area where it helps you the most, right?” he said. “And then young players who maybe continue to develop and grow. But very rarely are those four that we add contribute to the game, in my opinion. It’s more about the experience for some young players who in the future are going to be critical parts of your team.”

The new rule appears to have the backing of multiple coaches, perhaps why it was quickly and quietly implemented ahead of the 2023 campaign.

In any case, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman is also in favor of the new rule.

“I think there’s a lot to be said for that. In other words, in the day of transfer portal, the more you can carry, the more you can travel might help them mentally, help them feel more a part of the football team,” Pittman said. “Obviously that’s more and more guys that you can use for special teams help, as well. I just think there’s a lot of good with that.

“Obviously if you have a solid roster you’re going to have a hard time figuring out what 74 are going, but I do think it’s good for the programs, I believe it’s good for the kids and also for an opportunity to encourage a little bit more to stay out of the portal and stay on the football team. So I think there’s a lot of things that are good about it.”

Napier also honed in on keeping players involved as the biggest benefit to the new rule change on the size of travel rosters.

Even if the players who might be the final inclusions on the travel roster don’t end up playing on the road, the additional experience can really pay dividends down the road. That’s how Napier is approaching the extra spots the SEC has granted on travel rosters.

“Be engaged,” Napier said of the last few players. “It’s one of the tougher things we have to do as coaches is tell those guys that might be 71, 72, 73, 74. There’s always a handful of players on your team that you wish you could take that maybe have been working hard, they’re marking progress, they’re developing. And it’s disappointing when they don’t make the travel roster.

“I think with the portal, most of my counterparts in the league would agree, the more players that get to travel the better.”