AAC commissioner Tim Pernetti shreds transfer portal window in light of Marshall bowl game opt-out

Following an opt-out by Marshall in the Independence Bowl, opinions have flown on what it means for the sport.

And AAC commissioner Tim Pernetti is among the latest to chime in, noting that college football has set itself up for this sort of thing with the way the calendar is currently structured.

“This situation underscores a critical issue impacting college football,” Pernetti said, according to a report from the Action Network’s Brett McMurphy. “The timing of the transfer portal enables this behavior.”

Marshall has lost 29 players to the transfer portal through the first week of the early window, leaving the team short on bodies to compete in a potential bowl game. That has led to the decision to opt-out.

Pernetti, though, would have preferred if Marshall had simply not accepted the bowl bid in the first place.

“If an institution & its conference has slightest concern regarding its ability to play in a bowl, it should not accept the opportunity & allow a willing participant to compete,” Pernetti said. “We should consider legislation to require all programs that willingly accept invitations & commit to bowl games to play the games or be subject to consequences for the impact it has on their opponent.”

Of course, the Independence Bowl has adjusted quickly, with Louisiana Tech selected to fill in for Marshall.

So the show will go on.

But everyone would like to avoid a similar situation playing out in the future, if at all possible.

“We need to modernize the bowl structure to preserve the integrity of college football competition & provide our student-athletes & fans w/very best experience possible,” Pernetti said. “We are grateful to Louisiana Tech & Conference USA for stepping up.”

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (5-7 overall) will face Army in the Independence Bowl. The bowl game will be played on December 28th.