College sports have changed drastically over the past five to six years. Combining the NIL and transfer portal, college sports are essentially just another version of the pro sports world. Gone are the days of becoming a campus legend, instead replaced by being able to leave as soon as the checks start rolling in. But is the transfer portal really all that bad for college sports? Is giving players the chance to get a fresh start if they feel like they need it such a bad thing?
The transfer portal, like everything, has its pros and cons. Some may feel that the integrity of the college game is now compromised, as players are no longer committing to a school or coach, but they are committing to the money. However, some could also feel that the transfer portal gives players more flexibility and allows them to maximize their potential while they can. Whatever the stance may be, the transfer portal is definitely a controversial aspect of college sports.
Why the transfer portal is good
Since the portal became a thing in 2018, eligibility has since shifted to allow incoming transfers the ability to play immediately, something that was not allowed previously. Before the portal era, any transfers would have to sit out a season and maybe lose a season of eligibility, and would also need to be granted permission from their current school even to be allowed to talk to other programs. Some athletes need to transfer due to factors beyond their control, which makes transferring an even bigger thing. Now, with the portal, athletes have more freedom and are able to begin the process of finding a new school immediately upon entering.
The transfer portal can also be a huge benefit for athletes who have name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities. In a recent study, only about 1.6% of college football players make it to the NFL, with most of those players forced to find career paths away from sports. With NIL granting players the chance to make money while playing their college sport, the transfer portal is a good opportunity for players to go to a school that offers a good paycheck and maximizes their earnings while they still can.
Why the transfer portal is bad
Before the transfer portal became a thing, players truly committed to a school and a program, knowing that they would be spending the next four years there and have the chance to become campus legends. With players knowing that transferring wasn’t an easy process, they had to make sure that the school they signed with would be a good fit for them, both on and off the field or court. But now, those days are over and so are the days of certain players forever being affiliated with a certain school.
For coaches, the transfer portal is the worst thing that could have happened. It is much harder to build a winning program when you know that any player can be gone in the blink of an eye. When it comes to recruiting, the transfer portal can make it virtually impossible. When Miami basketball head coach, Jim Larranaga, resigned in December, he cited the NIL/transfer portal era as being a big reason and how it took a lot out of him trying to navigate it. It’s hard for success to be sustainable when your roster is constantly facing turnover. It will be interesting to see how dynasties, such as the Nick Saban-led Alabama football, emerge during this era.
Final thoughts
While there are both sides to this, the general consensus seems to be that the transfer portal era has had a negative impact on the world of college sports. After all, college athletes are students first, and with them being able to transfer freely, especially to go where the money is, takes away from what college sports are all about.
