A proposal to eliminate the college football spring transfer portal window has the sport buzzing, and though it appears the NCAA’s efforts are benevolent, many wonder if the organization will be able to enact such legislation without legal challenges from players.
The NCAA Football Oversight Committee recommended a proposal this week to eliminate the 15-day portal window in April, which could go into effect as early as this academic year.
Five Tulane starters, including four on defense, transferred to Tulane during the spring window, Sumrall said.
More than 1,200 did so during the spring window, according to 247Sports.
Even with the new proposed rules, alleged tampering won’t go away, but no spring transfer window will help ease some of those problems.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has been in favor of creating a single portal window.
Most high school players now sign in December, but eliminating the spring transfer portal window could cause high school players to wait until February to see how rosters shake out during the only portal window in December.
“If there is no spring portal, high school kids’ second signing day will be huge,” a Big 12 head coach said.
Though it seems the NCAA is acting kindly, many question whether the organization will be able to pass such legislation without facing legal challenges from players. The college football industry is abuzz about a proposal to do away with the spring transfer portal window.
The elimination of the 15-day portal window in April, which could happen as early as this academic year, is the recommendation made this week by the NCAA Football Oversight Committee. If that takes place, athletic departments all over the country will have to finalize rosters in December, during what is probably the most turbulent period for college sports. In addition to the 30-day portal window, the coaching carousel, and the high school signing period, school administrators will probably ask their coaches to reduce their 120-man rosters to 105 in order to get ready for the new revenue-sharing model that is set to take effect on July 1.
A Group of Five coach told CBS Sports, “It won’t pass.”. “That’s a lawsuit that prevents players from departing in the spring. “. .
Another coach stated: “It will only take one student who wishes to transfer in April to file a lawsuit. “.”.
Player movement in the portal is only permitted as of December. Jan. 9 to Jan. There’s a cost associated with adding 7, but it would undoubtedly help stabilize rosters and stop other schools from tampering in the spring and winter.
Head coach Jon Sumrall of Tulane told CBS Sports, “Not having that second window is brutal for first-year staffs.”. First-year staff members will find it more difficult to get their roster in order because they will already be dealing with hiring staff members in December. It’s already chaotic with the portal and other things when the coach arrives. “. .
Tulane hired Sumrall away from Troy in December. According to Sumrall, during the spring window, five Tulane starters—four of them on defense—transferred to Tulane.
The 2023 season saw more than 3,800 players log in to the portal, smashing the previous record of 3,502 set during the 2022–2023 cycle. According to 247Sports, more than 1,200 did so during the spring window.
In an attempt to find out how coaches, administrators, player personnel directors, and player agents felt about the proposal, CBS Sports conducted a survey. There was a range of responses from them. These are the advantages and disadvantages of the proposal, in their opinion.
The manipulation of springtime fades.
There have been allegations of collusion by rival schools in the spring by coaches all over the sport, but especially by the Group of 5 and the lower division power teams. The head coach of Miami (Ohio), Chuck Martin, charged earlier this week that Alabama had stolen their kicker, Lou Groza Award winner Graham Nicholson. Dave Clawson, the head coach of Wake Forest, stated that six to eight players received offers of money to use the portal last year.
Alleged tampering won’t go away even with the new proposed rules, but having no spring transfer window will help to mitigate some of those issues.
A Power Four head coach told CBS Sports, “You can coach your guys tougher in the spring knowing they can’t leave.”. “The sole drawback is that you cannot replace any long-term injuries sustained during spring practice. “.
Although the spring window proved to be quite popular, a mere 11 players, comprising three of the top 50, entered the 247Sports Transfer Portal Rankings during this cycle. Lower-level teams were most affected by the programs.
A head coach for the Group of Five stated, “It will force some kids to actually face adversity instead of just jumping from school to school.”.
Greg Sankey, the commissioner of the SEC, has supported the establishment of a single portal window. In his own conference, he has already implemented a more stringent transfer policy that prohibits players from attending another league school after February. 2. .
No space for mistakes or taking chances.
Many players—especially those with new position coaches or head coaches—have turned spring practices into tryout sessions due to the free market in the portal era.
A player may find themselves stuck in an unhappy marriage with their coach for the entire season if they have just a few days in December to make up their mind about sticking with them.
Children, whether or not they start, will need to remain confined during the season. To appear on the portal come December, they will require high-caliber footage, according to a Big 12 assistant coach.
Gamers may also lose influence when using their name, likeness, or image. In the spring, when coaches are eager to add players who can change games to their rosters and cover for injuries that occurred unexpectedly during the offseason, they are typically forced to pay a premium for high-profile players.
As per the player agent’s statement to CBS Sports, “I believe it’s unjust to them.”. “The best thing about the spring portal is that it allows kids to give the new leadership a chance after a coach departs. “. .
During spring practices, most players in the spring window realize they won’t make it into their current school’s rotation and enter the portal. In an attempt to get more playing time, those players frequently depart for smaller programs.
Coach: “Are we saying guys could still transfer down to FCS even though there isn’t a spring window?”.
The needs of schools influence the market as well. Defensive tackles were in high demand during the spring transfer window, and because there weren’t many on the portal, rumors circulated that highly sought-after transfer targets were being offered seven-figure NIL deals.
Restore spotlight on February signing day?
For incoming high school players, the early signing period will begin in December, two weeks earlier than previously scheduled. 4 for the current year. Since its creation in 2017, the early signing period has essentially taken over the role of the customary signing day, which falls on the first Wednesday of February. High school athletes may have to wait until February to see how rosters unfold during the limited December portal window if the spring transfer portal window is eliminated. Currently, the majority of high school athletes sign in December.
High school athletes might also have more negotiating power with the portal since it closed in January.
“The second signing day for high school kids will be enormous if there is no spring portal,” a Big 12 head coach stated.
