SEC administrators, coaches to discuss eliminating league transfer portal deadline

The SEC could make a major change to its transfer portal rules at this week’s spring meetings.

Alabama proposed a resolution to change the intraconference transfer deadline for immediate eligibility from Feb. 1 to May 1. That would align with the NCAA’s portal deadline and, effectively, eliminate it within the SEC.

This is an interesting one from the SEC meetings. When I went to Big 12/Big Ten/Pac-12 meetings, some ADs/coaches/admins were saying they wanted their leagues to consider an intraconference transfer portal deadline like the SEC’s.

The SEC is considering eliminating it. pic.twitter.com/QyCySoaX6t

— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) May 31, 2022

It’s a stark contrast to other leagues such as the Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12 Conferences, which are talking about implementing intraconference portal deadlines.

The transfer portal deadline proposal is going to be one of many topics of discussion at the SEC spring meetings, which are taking place in Destin this week. On3’s Jesse Simonton is on site and will have updates throughout. He called the SEC’s proposal the “most interesting” one on the agenda.

“Most interesting SEC proposal on the docket at the spring meetings is to eliminate in the Feb. 1 deadline for intraconference transfers and move it to May 1 for immediately eligibility — which is the same as the rest of the NCAA,” he tweeted.

Alabama has three transfers coming in from SEC rivals. Former Georgia wide receiver Jermaine Burton is the highest-touted of them all, coming in as the No. 6 transfer to hit the portal this offseason, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings. The Crimson Tide also brought in former LSU cornerback Eli Ricks is also highly ranked, checking in as On3’s No. 8 transfer portal prospect. Former Vanderbilt offensive lineman Tyler Steen is also planning to join the Crimson Tide this offseason as part of a loaded recruiting class — both from the high school level and from the transfer portal.

Last year, the NCAA changed its transfer portal rules to give athletes immediate eligibility after transferring prior to May 1. The previous rules stated athletes had to sit out a year if they transferred to another program.