Jim Harbaugh off to NFL opens 30-day transfer portal for Michigan players

Jim Harbaugh achieved everything he wanted to as a head coach at his alma mater. Three consecutive wins over Ohio State. Three Big Ten championships. And to cap it off, leading Michigan to a national championship in the College Football Playoff earlier this month.

Now he is off to the NFL, accepting the job with the Los Angeles Chargers. The past few offseasons, the Wolverines quarterback turned coach has interviewed and shopped himself for jobs in the professional ranks.

There are no hurt feelings in Ann Arbor. Harbaugh checked off everything on the to-do list. Now he will go fulfill the last check mark on his bucket list: a Lombardi Trophy.

But leaving the program at the end of January doesn’t do Michigan any favors. Athletic director Warde Manuel will have to move quickly to install a new coach. Many believe the smart decision would be to elevate offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore, who served as acting head coach for four games this season in the wake of NCAA investigations.

The transfer portal will now open for 30 days for Michigan athletes, allowing time to decide on their future with Harbaugh leaving his alma mater, according to NCAA guidelines. With the one-time transfer rule, athletes can play immediately at new schools.

Classes started at Michigan in early January and the add-drop deadline is set for Jan. 30. Athletes who choose to enter the portal will have to move quickly. Plus, the NCAA sent guidance to institutions in December that multi-time transfers who enter the transfer portal this fall and winter will be eligible to play at a new school in the 2024-25 academic year without securing a waiver.

What to know about Michigan’s transfer portal window

Alabama, Arizona, South Alabama, San Jose State and Washington are all dealing with transfer portal windows, part of the domino effect of Nick Saban deciding to retire. Time will tell if the Wolverines will move to elevate Moore or look outside of Schembechler Hall, which would set off another coaching cycle.

One thing is known — Michigan’s next move will be crucial to keeping a roster together that won a national championship earlier this month. Sure, J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum, Junior Colson and Roman Wilson are all off to the NFL draft. But plenty of talent is still on the board. Defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, EDGE defender Derrick Moore, who took on two blocks before dropping Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe on the Rose Bowl’s final play, and cornerback Will Johnson are all coming back for another year.

With such a talented roster, the going thought is elevating Moore will keep the roster together. Reports have already surfaced of outside programs tampering to sway players to enter the portal. Going from outside the Michigan Brotherhood could result in an exodus of players.

That doesn’t even factor in early enrollees and 2024 signees, who can enter the portal or ask for their National Letter of Intent’s to be released.

Grad transfers are allowed to enter the portal at any time. Retention will be crucial for the next head coach, with NIL playing a vital role in keeping rosters together in the new age of college football.

Michigan players will have free rein to transfer wherever they please. If any Wolverines choose to not leave during the next month, they will be able to enter the portal during the NCAA’s 15-day spring window. That is scheduled from Tuesday, April 16 to Tuesday, April 30.

The academic calendar will play factor

Michigan started classes more than 20 days ago. For some athletes, because of the way the calendar works, entering the portal and waiting to enroll at a new institution until the summertime might be an option. Others could enter the portal and drive up their NIL price, drawing out the decision process.

Most of the top programs in the nation have already started classes, too, making it harder for Michigan players to leave and enroll in time for spring ball. Michigan athletes will also have to figure out add/drop dates for other top programs, trying to transfer to top programs in an orderly fashion.

Or the Wolverines could opt to stay in Ann Arbor and see what decision Manuel makes.