Monday was a key day in college football – the transfer portal officially opened up. The transfer portal is basically a method for college football players to move to other schools. Over the last few years, it has become perhaps even more important than high school recruiting.
Players enter their name in the portal, then can be recruited by other teams. It gives players whose coaches leave a chance to continue their career elsewhere. Or maybe they were promised something and the school did not deliver. Or, in some cases, players just want a chance to play.
The portal has empowered players and given them opportunities. It has also changed the turnaround time for teams.
Lincoln Riley took Heisman contender Caleb Williams and several other stars with him from Oklahoma when he took over at USC. The result? USC missed the College Football Playoff by one game. Sonny Dykes reloaded at TCU and the Frogs are in the Final Four.
The positives are that players can move on if the situation is not right and coaches can turn things around in a hurry. Add in NILs, and teams can speed up the rebuild process significantly. Deion Sanders will use the transfer portal to get Colorado going again quickly.
There are negatives. A lot of players enter the portal seeking greener pastures and never get signed. It costs them a scholarship. Some say players commit to a school and should honor their commitment. Some players do commit to schools, but the majority to the coaches who they will spend all their time with. The coaches can leave at any time. Now the players can as well.
Some big names are already in the portal. Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei lost his starting job and will be moving on. Closer to home, Texas quarterback Hudson Card, who lost out to Quinn Ewers for the starting job and would also have to deal with Arch Manning next year, is good enough to start at the power five level. The portal gives him a chance to do that. A&M’s Haynes King will also play elsewhere after a disappointing stint with the Aggies. While quarterbacks will always get the attention, the portal gives players a chance to better their careers. And unlike high school recruits, transfers have played college football and have film to show other schools.
Players will be able to change their careers. Teams will be able to change their fortunes. Yes, there are some negatives. But the transfer portal has changed college sports, and I believe it is for the better.