The Highly Controversial Transfer Portal

It feels like Americans don’t agree on much these days. Taxes, gun laws, politics, you name it.

But I’d be willing to bet all Americans — on both sides of the aisle — could agree on one thing: the current state of college athletics is in utter disarray and accordingly, must change.

How We Got Here

For a simplified version of how the collegiate athletics industry got into this cluttered mess, Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger nailed it: “[s]chools and their leaders, generating billions in television revenue and ticket sales, delayed sharing wealth for so long that federal judges and state lawmakers forced them to do it.”

Since the inception of the “NIL era”, which began on July 1, 2021 — when college athletes were allowed to profit from their name, image, and likeness — the transfer portal has evolved. Established in 2018, the transfer portal has adopted new regulations in recent years that enable student-athletes to transfer schools and become immediately eligible without sitting out a year.

The immediate eligibility transfer rules come with benefits and drawbacks.

On one hand, it allows college athletes the flexibility to start fresh at a new school. On the other hand — and most apparent with college football — the transfer portal has spiraled out of control.

College Football Playoff Teams Prepare Amid Chaos

With the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff just days away, the transfer portal remains active. As teams prepare for their opponents, some football players are preparing for their next move.

For example, Penn State backup quarterback Beau Pribula announced his decision to transfer just six days before the No. 6 Nittany Lions host No. 11 SMU. In his announcement, Pribula blamed the current CFB model: the overlapping CFP and transfer portal timeline "forced [him] into an impossible decision.”

Penn State Head Coach James Franklin voiced his disappointment and suggested a CFB Commissioner would help remedy future transfer issues.

Other teams are feeling the brunt of the transfer portal too.

No. 4 Arizona State, who will enjoy a bye before playing the winner of No. 12 Clemson vs. No. 5 Texas, leads all CFP teams with 12 total players transferring out.

Further, the Marshall football team had to withdraw from a bowl game just two weeks before kickoff due to more than 25 players departing.

Even the Transfer Portal Twitter account has seen enough:

On The Horizon

So what’s next for college football?

Precise future details remain unclear. However, as college athletics shifts from an amateur to a professional model, change is inevitable on various levels.

Revenue sharing

With revenue-sharing for college athletes set to begin next season, schools and other institutions are preparing for the uncertainty. For example, with the settlement-related revenue-sharing underway, how will NIL collectives play a role in the recruitment and retention process?

Coach assistance

In other funding-related news, coaches are taking pay cuts (Oklahoma), matching collective donations (LSU), and even restructuring existing contracts to pour some of that money back into the university (FSU).

Threat of litigation

Notably, future NCAA decisions that impose limitations on athletes could lead to additional lawsuits. For example, if the NCAA attempts to reduce the transfer portal open period or cut thousands of walk-on roster spots, litigation will likely follow. And based on their recent record in court, the NCAA probably wants to avoid the legal route.

My Thoughts

I wouldn’t go as far as calling the current college athletics landscape “bedlam” — a word I had to Google — and believe it’s crucial that we consider the biases that fuel some of the opinions we hear.

For example, can you guess who used the term “bedlam” to describe the current climate? The president of a high-ranking SEC school… who probably isn’t thrilled about the imminent changes and drastic shifts in leverage and power.

However, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit the current system needs regulation, structure, and drastic change.

As 12 teams prepare for the highly-anticipated CFP, schools should not have to deal with players walking out on a daily basis.

But let’s be real: if the solution was simple, this problem would have already been solved. As the NCAA calls on Congress to intervene, it’s difficult to determine who is best fit to solve major issues within college sports.

I think obtaining a CFP commissioner is a good start, but repairing the intertwined issues of the transfer portal, collective involvment, and revenue-sharing within NIL will require a creative and collaborative approach from all industry leaders and actors: NCAA President Charlie Baker, conference commissioners, university adminstratives, student-athletes, coaches, recruiters, agents, athletic departments, and even the fans.

If money and greed are the sole considerations, we’re in for a long journey ahead.

And FWIW, I’m actually someone who believes that Americans have considerably more in common with each other than we think. Sure, we love to disagree and debate, especially in the sports world.

Although Americans may disagree on the manner, method, or magnitude of change, one thing remains certain: the college athletics model must be restructured and regulated.

Conversation Starters 🗣️

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Conor McGregor to Fight Logan Paul in India? 🥊

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If you’ve made it this far, I appreciate you.

Feel free to reply to this email or get in touch with how you’re feeling about The Sideline so far. Positive, negative, neutral feedback — send it my way. I’d love to get a pulse check, especially early on, as the identity of the newsletter materializes.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy Holidays!

With gratitude,

Duggs

Sources:

www.sports.yahoo.com/as-expanded-college-football-playoff-arrives-the-sports-chaotic-realities-are-on-full-display-it-is-absolute-bedlam-135732172.html

www.athlonsports.com/college-football/college-football-playoff-team-arizona-state-lost-12-players-transfer-portal

www.apnews.com/article/ncaa-settlement-nil-934586dfc58035a79d1477358b9bb339

The Sideline’s work, including this article, is for information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. This article does not create an attorney-client relationship. The opinions expressed in the article belong solely to the author and do not express the views or opinions of the author’s employer.