The NCAA FBS Oversight Committee recently focused on a proposal to impose strict penalties on teams that add players outside of the designated transfer portal window.
After adjusting the original plan from February, the oversight committee outlined two significant actions if a team adds a player not in the transfer portal during the January window:
- The head coach would face restrictions, barred from all football-related duties—both on-field coaching and administrative responsibilities—across six contests.
- The institution would incur a fine amounting to 20% of its football budget.
Initially, the committee suggested that schools would also lose five scholarships for signing a player not in the portal outside the official window, but this aspect was eliminated from the final proposal.
While losing five scholarships may seem manageable in an era where teams can have up to 105 scholarship players, the enforced penalties present significant challenges. A head coach losing their capability to recruit and actively do their job midway through the season is a serious consequence, compounded by a hefty financial penalty.
This proposal still requires the Division I cabinet’s approval, but it highlights the NCAA’s efforts to close a critical transfer loophole athletes have exploited over the past year—something that could have a major impact this spring.
NCAA’s Approach to Preventing Future Issues Like Xavier Lucas
The NCAA’s shift to a single transfer portal window post-winter and spring aims to centralize all player movements within a concise timeframe immediately after the season.
However, a loophole has emerged: students can unenroll from one school and re-enroll at another. This workaround allows players to bypass transfer portal rules.
Instances have occurred in the past—like when Louisville wide receiver Ahmari Huggins-Bruce transferred to South Carolina and then returned to the Cardinals right before the season. Yet, the most notable case involves Xavier Lucas.
Wisconsin did not allow Lucas into the transfer portal after the 2024 season, arguing that he had a binding contract. Nevertheless, Lucas unenrolled and went on to enroll at Miami, participating successfully in the 2025 season and contributing to their journey to the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Lucas’ experience has set a precedent for players looking to transfer without adhering to the designated timelines. BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff similarly withdrew, enrolled at Tulane, and played a crucial role in leading the Green Wave to the playoffs.
While these paths are uncommon, industry sources noted that they could become a viable option for some players after spring practice when teams may struggle with roster depth.
This absence of a spring transfer window means teams cannot fix critical gaps in their rosters unilaterally. If a contender suffers from key injuries or dissatisfaction in specific position groups, they have limited options for acquiring proven talent.
The speculation this winter indicated that athletes might follow Lucas’ route to address roster weaknesses post-spring. One player agent even labeled this maneuver as a strategic play, considering the high demand for players to fill urgent gaps and the potential for lucrative contracts.
In response, the NCAA’s plan for penalties seeks to deter teams from exploiting this loophole.
While adding a player after the spring could bolster a team’s depth, the cost of sidelining a head coach from active responsibilities for six games is significant.
Next Steps
This proposal remains in its preliminary phase, awaiting approval in April.
Following that, the legality of preventing player enrollments at other institutions could be contested, depending on individuals and their legal representatives.
Ultimately, this initiative by the NCAA Oversight Committee aims to cultivate roster stability for teams heading into the spring.
“We believe it is essential to emphasize this rule in light of the current landscape in Division I football,” remarked Mark Alnutt, chair of the FBS Oversight Committee, in February. “There is a designated window for student-athletes to communicate their intentions to enter the transfer portal. Any movement outside that structured process warrants significant penalties.”
