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. If that happens, athletic departments nationwide will be tasked with finalizing rosters in December amid arguably the most tumultuous time in college sports. Coupled with the high-school signing period, the 30-day portal window and the coaching carousel, school administrators will likely also ask their coaches to shrink their 120-man rosters to 105 in preparation for the new revenue-sharing model expected to be implemented July 1.
“It won’t pass,” a Group of Five coach told CBS Sports. “That’s a lawsuit, limiting players from leaving in the spring.”
Added another coach: “All it’s going to take is one kid who wants to transfer in April to sue.”
Only allowing player movement in the portal from Dec. 9 to Jan. 7 would certainly help stabilize rosters and eliminate tampering from other schools in the winter and spring, but it comes with a price.
“For first-year staffs, not having that second window is brutal,” Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall told CBS Sports. “It’s gonna make it more challenging for first-year staffs to get their roster right because you’re already dealing with hiring a staff in December. By the time the coach gets there it’s already chaos with the portal and other stuff.”
Sumrall was hired away from Troy by Tulane in December. Five Tulane starters, including four on defense, transferred to…
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