Despite Transfer Portal closing already scheduled, CFB format will push teams to postpone deadline

Today is the final day that the transfer portal will be open. Barring any coach firings, which can briefly reopen the portal for the players on the team to transfer, players will have to wait until the middle of April 2025 before they can enter it again.

The timing of the portal has caused coaches of programs involved in the College Football Playoff to complain. While many teams had a singular bowl game to focus on or nothing at all, these teams were preparing for meaningful games. The last thing that these coaches want to do is to deal with numerous players leaving the program.

This sentiment was echoed by SMU Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee.

"I hate it for our players. I told them ... I hate it that you guys, you get a chance to play in the College Football Playoff, yet you are either forced to decide do I go in the portal or not. Or let’s call it like it is, people are bombarding our roster trying to pick people off our roster, and we’re trying to focus on the playoff," Lashlee said.

This way of doing things not only makes life hard for the coaches but for the players as well. Being essentially forced to decide between a potential appearance in a playoff game (which could help the player in the long term) or a move to another program that may never make the playoff but would guarantee a spot as a starter is something that no player would want to make.

Another CFP team has found a solution to the Transfer Portal and its influence

This is an issue that some teams have struggled to cope with. However, problems breed solutions, as Arizona State Sun Devils coach Kenny Dillingham has been able to both help his team before their CFP clash with the Texas Longhorns and help those who are transferring.

Dillingham has allowed those who are transferring to another program to still practice with the team. On his decision to do this, he told USA Today:

"My job is to help these guys, and just because they’re going in the portal doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be on the team to finish out the year if that’s what they want to do. There’s no manipulation tactic behind it. It’s mainly just be on the team or not. Just know you’re supported either way.”

There are many new things in college football that the programs are going to have to adapt to in the coming years. The transfer portal is one of these. From the ability to transfer as many times without any consequences to the dates interfering with crucial games, teams are going to learn the best way to deal with this in time.