Lawyers managing the $2.8 billion NCAA settlement suggested a comprehensive revision on Wednesday regarding roster restrictions, providing athletes who lost their positions an opportunity to participate without affecting the new limits for the duration of their eligibility.

Because the court ordered them to create a new plan, the lawyers suggested in court documents that schools should make lists of all the players they removed, expecting the agreement to be approved. This number could easily be hundreds, and maybe even many more.

These students, called "Designated Student-Athletes" in the new legal document, might be asked to come back and try for a place on the team, but it's not guaranteed, or they can choose to go to different schools.

No matter what, these athletes will not count towards the new team size limits that are part of the plan introduced last fall and first approved by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken in October.

The proposal would also extend the exemption to high school recruits whose promised placements were subsequently revoked, and it would remain in effect for the duration of those players' college eligibility.

Wilken has already agreed to the main parts of the deal. This includes letting each school give up to $20.5 million every year directly to their athletes. It also includes over $2.7 billion in money for the past that will go to players. These players said the NCAA and five biggest conferences unfairly stopped them from making money from their name, image, and likeness.

The recent proposal concluded a two-week rush after Wilken directed legal representatives for both parties to resume negotiations, stating that the roster limit specifics of the current plan were unsatisfactory.

The proposal suggests substituting existing scholarship caps—such as 85 for football and 9.9 for men's wrestling—with roster limits, set at 105 for football and 30 for wrestling. While institutions are permitted to award scholarships to all team members, this approach incurs significant financial implications, leading many to anticipate that walk-on athletes or those with partial scholarships will be excluded.

Wilken clearly felt for the many players who lost their places as schools started getting ready to put the settlement's terms into practice. About twelve of them shared their stories during a hearing on April 7.

Wilken told the lawyers to change that part of the deal. The NCAA first replied to Wilken’s request by saying they would not change anything. They argued that changing the roster moves that were already happening would cause more problems in a process that was already difficult. Wilken told them to do it anyway, or the whole plan would be in danger.

The lawyers for the plaintiffs said they improved on Wilken's idea. They not only allowed schools to bring back players they had cut without it affecting their team size limit, but also made this exception possible for a new school.

The plaintiffs contend that these revisions to the settlement agreement go beyond the safeguards stipulated by the court, according to their court filing.

The attorneys stressed that there is no certainty the athletes will regain their positions on the roster.

The defendants said that the changes to the agreement mean that schools and their sports departments can still choose which athletes are on their teams. They said this has always been true and is still true even with limits on team size. They wrote, 'The changes to the agreement make sure that people who lost or would have lost their place on the team because of the new limits will be in the same situation as if the limits were never put in place. This means the limits do not affect them.'

The judge is anticipated to provide those opposing the scheme with a limited timeframe to submit revised objections prior to her ultimate ruling. Steve Berman, co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs, had previously suggested that those contesting the plan would remain dissatisfied with the new proposition.

Time is of the essence for the NCAA and its 1,200 member institutions, which collectively boast over 500,000 athletes across various teams. The stipulations of the settlement were slated to become effective on July 1, with football practice commencing shortly thereafter.