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The NCAA Transfer Portal: Changing the Game in College Sports

Updated: Mar 19


Introduction


The NCAA Transfer Portal has changed college sports in big ways. It gives student-athletes more freedom to choose where they play, but it also creates challenges for coaches and schools. The portal, introduced in 2018, was meant to make transferring easier for athletes. Now, it has also changed how coaches recruit and how schools manage their teams. Before the portal, high school athletes had very few chances to change schools without facing major obstacles. If they wanted to transfer, they often had to sit out a season and get permission from their current school. Now, the transfer process is much faster, allowing athletes to move more freely, but it also means more competition and uncertainty for teams.


This topic is complex, so I’ll be covering it in three upcoming blog posts, each looking at the transfer portal from a different perspective:


  1. The Athlete’s Perspective: Why athletes transfer, the challenges they face, and how they can make smart decisions.

  2. The Coach’s Perspective: How coaches handle roster changes, recruit new players, and keep their teams competitive.

  3. The University & NCAA Perspective: How the transfer portal affects college sports financially and the rules schools must follow.


Each viewpoint will give a clearer picture of how the transfer portal is shaping the future of college athletics.


The Athlete’s Perspective: Why Players Transfer


Some people think athletes transfer just because they aren’t getting enough playing time. While that’s sometimes true, most college athletes are highly competitive and willing to fight for their spot. The bigger issue is often about fit and whether they feel supported or have the right opportunity to succeed.

In top college sports programs, the competition is intense. Some athletes go from being the star of their high school team to being just another player on a college roster. That adjustment can be difficult, especially if they feel they aren’t getting the coaching or opportunities they need to improve. In some cases, transferring is the best way to continue growing as an athlete and finding the right environment to succeed.


The Coach’s Perspective: Managing Team Changes


Coaches in college sports are under a lot of pressure to win. Some of that pressure comes from their schools, and some comes from their own career ambitions. In big programs, coaches get evaluated every year, and their ability to recruit and retain top players is a major part of their success. Coaches also move between jobs, which can cause waves of transfers. When a coach leaves for another school, many of their players may follow them or enter the portal to explore new opportunities. This can change the balance of entire teams and conferences within months.


Recruiting has also become more complicated. Coaches must not only scout high school players but also track the transfer portal daily. Bringing in new transfers can help a team fill gaps quickly, but it can also disrupt team chemistry. The best coaches know how to balance keeping their current players happy while also improving the roster with new talent.


The University & NCAA Perspective: The Business Side of Transfers


Colleges spend millions of dollars on recruiting, scholarships, and NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals to attract top athletes. Schools that invest heavily in sports have to compete for talent, just like professional teams do. Some critics argue that NIL has made college sports all about money, but many athletes see it as fair compensation for their hard work. Most college athletes have been playing since they were kids, spending thousands of hours training.


A full-ride scholarship worth $40,000 a year may seem like a lot, but schools also make millions from their sports programs. The transfer portal gives athletes the chance to make the best financial and athletic decisions for their careers, just as coaches and schools do. The NCAA continues to adjust its rules to keep up with these changes. New policies, like transfer windows and limits on immediate eligibility for multiple transfers, are being introduced to keep college sports competitive and fair. Schools must constantly adapt to these evolving rules while managing their own budgets and team dynamics.


Final Thoughts & What’s Next


The NCAA Transfer Portal has changed college sports in major ways. It has given athletes more power over their careers, but it has also created challenges for coaches and schools.


In the next three blog posts, I will break down each perspective further:


  1. The Athlete’s Journey Through the Transfer Portal – Why they transfer, the risks involved, and how they can make smart choices.

  2. How Coaches Manage the Transfer Era – The best strategies for recruiting, keeping players, and building strong teams.

  3. The NCAA’s Role & The Business of Transfers – How schools handle the financial and legal side of transfers.


Please, stay tuned as I dive deeper into how the transfer portal is changing the future of college sports over the next 3 blog post.


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