Transfer Portal Thoughts

I think nothing summarizes the current predicament of the transfer portal/college athletics as my reaction to watching the super regionals this past weekend. Multiple times I heard the ESPN commentators mention how young or “set up” a program was for future success. Almost every time those comments would be made I would scoff at it, thinking in my head “No way a lot of those guys stay at that program”. When in reality a large number of those players will be entering the transfer portal in hopes of finding a better home or better situation next year. Let me be clear this is not a thread where I am going to blame the players or bash their decisions. I simply want to acknowledge what a sad state we are in when a person who has worked in college athletics for almost 10 years has a gut reaction to assume a player or group of players are more likely to transfer than to stay at a program that is one of the final 16 teams playing this season. 

The current state of college athletics surrounded by the transfer portal I believe was formed around a great idea to create more freedom for players and coaches within the system. Inherently, it was also going to showcase the level of accountability the previous system had created. The transfer portal was and is a fantastic tool for those who the previous system was failing. Whether it was a player who coach had been fired/left for a new job, had been over recruited before stepping on campus, there are number of reasons where players should have the freedom to leave. However, we have created an abyss where institutions, coaches and players can take advantage of a system without guardrails to take what they want where they see fit. 

It’s not the players, coaches or institutions fault for the current state of college athletics. If you give individuals or groups the freedom to go find a “better” situation to put themselves in they are going to do it. Lets answer the questions everyone is asking:

- Has the transfer portal/NIL hurt college baseball? 
Yes, we have a current setting where players, coaches and institutions can move off and change their situation without really any repercussions. Players can hop into the transfer portal for any reason. Coaches can move off a player after a year in search for someone better. We have created a transactional system where we are encouraged to make quick decisions and have knee jerk reactions.

- Should both exist in college baseball?
Yes, I believe players should be able to leave their current situation if they fall into a list of exceptions (coach leaving, over recruited before stepping on campus, etc.). I also believe players should be compensated for the brand they create and provide to the institution they represent. However, getting offered a lump sum amount of money before even stepping on campus is not a brand based compensation, but rather a bid for services. 

- Is the Transfer Portal creating better opportunities?
Over 52% of NCAA baseball players that entered the portal in 2025 did not get back onto a NCAA roster the next fall. The portal may be helping the elite players at the top of the pyramid but, for the average player it is not beneficial. 

- Is unlimited transfers the problem?
If you change the current the system from unlimited transfers to a single free transfer while keeping an exemption list where a player can apply for future transfers creates more structure and measured decisions. 

- How do we fix NIL?
I believe a way to fix the current NIL structure is to get rid of third-party collectives and create a structure where players are directly shared media rights, ticket sales and sponsorship revenue. This would enable third party NIL deals to become true brand based endorsements. Another thing would be to force any NIL offer over a certain amount of money to be a multi year contract. This would create more long term commitment between players and institutions/entities. @Coach_DougGove

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