SMU’s head coach Rhett Lashlee recently took time amidst preparations for the College Football Playoff to discuss the increasing concerns regarding the open transfer portal. The challenge he faces is not with players wanting to move to different programs, but rather the timing for those still engaged in competitive play. This is particularly relevant for teams participating in the 12-team playoff, like the Mustangs, as well as those competing in various bowl games leading into early January.
“I feel for our players,” Lashlee mentioned on Tuesday. “It’s unfortunate that they get a chance to participate in the College Football Playoff, yet they are pressured to decide whether to enter the portal. To be candid, people are heavily targeting our roster while we’re trying to stay focused on playoff preparations.”
Additionally, this period coincides with final exams for many students at SMU and other universities. Players seeking to change schools must enter the transfer portal by December 28, or they’ll have to wait until April 16. This timeline was amended in October, resulting in a reduction of 15 days following complaints from coaches about the previous schedule.
While Lashlee understands athletes desire the option to transfer for increased playing time or to benefit from name, image, and likeness opportunities, he asserts that even the players are unhappy with the current conditions necessitating these decisions. “We discuss creating a system that should benefit them, but we haven’t achieved that. Part of our responsibility as adults is to prioritize what’s best for youngsters, rather than merely catering to their immediate desires,” he commented. “There’s no other sport that allows free agency mid-season. It’s unfortunate and disheartening.”
SMU (11-2) is set to face Penn State (11-2) on Saturday in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Both teams are dealing with the implications of the transfer portal, as the second-string quarterbacks for each squad have opted to enter the portal. Preston Stone, who has a 13-3 record as the Mustangs’ starting quarterback, has chosen to remain with his team for the playoffs, while Penn State’s sophomore quarterback Beau Pribula will not be part of the Nittany Lions going forward.
“You can hear about backup quarterbacks feeling they have no choice,” Lashlee commented, deeming this situation unacceptable. “That shouldn’t be the case. He shouldn’t have to face such a dilemma. Preston has opted to stick with us, and we’re supporting him, but it’s still a complex situation for him.”
In response to Pribula’s decisions, Penn State coach James Franklin noted that the quarterback did not want to leave at this stage but felt he could not afford to wait until after their final game. “Given the nature of the portal and the timing, particularly for a quarterback, where there is only one starting position and those spots fill quickly, he felt cornered,” Franklin acknowledged. “I share his perspective.”
Deion Sanders, head coach of Colorado, is familiar with the dynamics of the transfer portal, having actively worked to reshape his team through it. This season, the Buffaloes welcomed over 40 new transfers, improving from a four-win record in Sanders’ inaugural season to a solid 9-3, leading to a matchup with BYU in the Alamo Bowl on December 28. “The transfer portal shouldn’t catch anyone off guard,” Sanders stated.
He has approached it with a methodical strategy. “You’ll likely lose a few players unexpectedly and gain several you didn’t anticipate, so it’s essential to have a plan,” Sanders advised. “You must conduct thorough research. We never find the portal to be a surprise.”
Should a player decide to enter the portal, Sanders is clear on his stance: “If you leave, that’s your decision, but I won’t allow you to come here, enjoy our practices, meals, and holiday celebrations, and then just walk away post-game. That feels like taking advantage of someone. We won’t tolerate that.”
An excessive number of players entering the portal can negatively impact a program significantly, as demonstrated by Marshall’s withdrawal from a bowl game due to a mass exodus of players following a coaching shift. Lashlee suggested that a straightforward remedy would be to not open the transfer portal in December. “We need to critically examine the schedule,” he argued. “Coaches have been voicing these concerns for the last few years about how these hasty modifications impact the young athletes we are meant to support.”