Assessing whether the SEC should reevaluate key transfer portal rule

With the transfer portal in full swing, there is one rule the SEC may want to consider changing. As of right now, players who wish to transfer within the conference must enter the portal before Feb. 1 to be eligible to play the following season.

Any player who fails to meet the deadline must sit the next season out. The rule does not apply to SEC players who transfer out of conference. That has put pressure on athletes to make their decisions quickly, especially in light of an ongoing coaching carousel.

On3‘s Pete Nakos joined Andy Staples on Sunday to discuss the rule and whether the SEC should reevaluate it. He suggested that, due to the fall portal window coinciding with bowl season, one option could be to move the window to the spring. The NCAA’s deadline for players to transfer and be immediately eligible is May 1.

“I think traditionally it made a lot of sense, but the way the college football calendar works now, I almost wonder if it needs to open in the spring,” Nakos said. “I do think you put a lot of pressure on these athletes to make a decision on their future during bowl season or during the College Football Playoff. Or even you’re taking classes and your coach just left. I think it’s a lot for the athlete to evaluate and I could see the SEC maybe doubling back and making some changes to that.”

Staples pointed to Alabama as an example of how this can be problematic. With Nick Saban recently announcing his retirement, some Crimson Tide players have already entered the portal. Others, however, started spring classes and now find themselves in a bind as the drop deadline at Alabama is Jan. 17.

Initially, the SEC thought it could avoid a lawsuit because of the caveat that players can transfer out of conference. But Staples wondered whether that could change as some coaches become frustrated with not being able to recruit certain players.

Nakos didn’t rule out the possibility of potential legal action.

“With the environment of college sports and the NCAA, I could definitely see a lawsuit happening in the spring,” he said.

For now, the SEC will continue to operate under the current rule. Players at schools like Alabama can still transfer within the conference and be eligible next season if they act fast. Still, it will be interesting to see whether this rule eventually changes and when.