The evolving Transfer Portal rules make for mercurial long-term effects
Jul 20, 2019, 2:01 PM
Personally, I believe the FBS transfer rules will result, one day, in "virtual" college football free agency. Now, it's not even close to that - FBS player transfers averaging about 1/2% or less to around 3%. At places like FSU this year, it's high at some 8 players - but they're bringing in 3 for a (net loss, perhaps) of 5. Still this is all in the infancy stage. Like most things - it probably will continue to grow & move farther toward "virtual" free agency. If the door is cracked open, doesn't it usually remain open forever and just get wider & wider in time?
In typical NCAA murky fashion, it's nearly impossible to know exactly what the (continually changing) rules are; ESPECIALLY when the NCAA has the full power to grant an immediate transfer to (example) Shea Patterson from Ole Miss (or anyone) - even though Patterson met NONE of the NCAA's nebulous criteria for granting transfers. It was done simply - "Because the NCAA (god) can do anything."
This business IS in the infant stages. We can't deny that even Clemson was very surprised by Shaq Smith transferring, & being pretty much blindsided by Feaster's departure.
For others' perspectives - I'll list a link or 2 to recent reports and rule changes. Some have already been updated of course