Ohio State’s athletic director has announced the addition of 91 new scholarships for the upcoming academic year as the landscape of college athletics evolves, particularly in relation to player compensation and newly established roster limits across various sports.

In a recent letter addressed to the Ohio State community, Ross Bjork, who leads one of the largest athletic departments in the country, stated that the Buckeyes are prepared to distribute the maximum allotted amount of $20.5 million to student-athletes as part of an agreement that came from a lawsuit settlement aimed at transforming the college sports framework.

Bjork confirmed that all 36 of the university’s sports programs will remain intact. He emphasized the importance of this increased investment, asserting that it would enhance the university’s ability to compete for championships while maintaining a focus on excellence in their athletic mission.

This shift is part of a recent settlement that replaces existing scholarship caps with roster size regulations, allowing schools the opportunity to provide scholarships to every athlete on their team. While some teams may reduce their rosters, many institutions are likely to see an increase in available scholarships.

However, Bjork did not specify which specific programs would benefit from the new scholarships. Furthermore, the Ohio State athletics department did not respond immediately to inquiries for additional information regarding the plan.

In his message, Bjork echoed sentiments commonly voiced by athletic directors at similarly positioned institutions, highlighting the necessity for Ohio State to be proactive in acquiring funding to support these changes. Potential strategies include exploring enhanced naming rights partnerships across campus and a revamped football season ticket strategy designed to accommodate as many fans as possible.

He concluded by urging the Buckeye community to rally behind the initiatives, emphasizing the need for collective commitment to ensure the long-term viability of Ohio State’s athletic programs.