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Rivals provides interesting update on transfer portal situation for 2021
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The transfer portal has become a popular destination among college football student-athletes. With the NCAA permitting a one-time transfer rule that grants players immediate eligibility, several have looked for options elsewhere if they’re unhappy in their current situation.
Some recent numbers from Rivals.com shows that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence, though. The statistics show that, right now, a large percentage of players who have entered the portal since Aug. 1 are still looking for a home.
Here’s a look at the numbers posted from Rivals regarding the transfer portal:
Portal numbers update:
*911 FBS scholarship players have entered since 8/1
*32 players withdrew
*243 players announced new schools
*27.6% of portal players have announced new schools
*636 FBS scholarship players remain in the portal @rivalsmike— NCAA Transfer Portal (@RivalsPortal) December 28, 2021
Few questions about this:
Since August 1st, 1,300 players (scholarship and non-scholarship) FBS players have entered the transfer portal
— NCAA Transfer Portal (@RivalsPortal) December 28, 2021
That means that 69.8% of the players who have entered the NCAA transfer portal have yet to find a new home — or return to their previous institution. That’s a pretty large percentage.
Plus, those numbers only include the FBS players, not student-athletes at the FCS, Division II or Division III levels.
Typically, at the end of each season, a wave of players decide to enter the transfer portal. A second wave usually comes following spring practices.
How many will find a home by next season? It’s worth keeping an eye on over the next several months.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB