Athletes shouldn’t fear transfer portal or NIL pressures

Hey college athletes —

In case you haven’t heard, the transfer portal is open. Also, you might have heard that some people are trying to make you feel bad for wanting to leave your school.

Don’t let guilt stop you from using the transfer portal or making the most of your NIL rights

Twenty-twenty-five headlines echoed the two years before it. Coaches and administrators spent the year calling the current landscape "chaos," "unsustainable" at best — or the three “w” words I won’t use here because 🤮. But as an athlete navigating the world today, you know what they call chaos is simply you having a say in how you live and play.

Considering the transfer portal, which opened Jan. 2 (transfer windows vary for sports) or a new name, image and likeness (NIL) deal is your decision. You aren't "ruining the game"; you’re enjoying a right as a primary driver of it.

The double standard of “loyalty"

"Loyalty" talk in college athletics had been a one-way street, if not ripe for interpretation before NIL took effect. Coaches and administrators have long been able to jump schools without penalty, barring buyout penalties, which new schools often eat. They can break a contract on a Sunday for a massive raise, and by Monday, they’re at a podium wearing a new logo and talking about culture and commitment. Look no further than the cluster at Ole Miss as it prepares for the College Football Playoff semifinals.

The NCAA didn't see that as unequal or ruining the game until its hand was forced three-and-a-half years ago when NIL entered the chat, followed by the House v. NCAA decision. The truth is, adults in the room didn’t like sharing the wealth. Many still don’t.

But the education part

Studies show that students who play organized sports fare better in business. So the premise of you making these decisions for yourself isn’t meant to trash the value of the education-for-play. It was once, however, the biggest benefit college athletes were given when signing over their rights with National Letters of Intent. An education requirement for a roster spot is still an asset and will hopefully help you grow as much as sports will. 

A pizza reality

As worthy as education is, when you can’t work (old amateurism rules), school tuition doesn’t buy you a meal after a long day of school and sports. It doesn’t pay for a movie ticket so you can join your friends for a night out. It’s always you, however, who carries your school’s banner with every touchdown, pitch, free throw and split time.

How to be a mensch while you’re on the move

You can exercise your rights to do as you see fit for you and still be a mensch — a person of integrity and honor. Using your leverage doesn't mean you have to burn bridges. Here is how to navigate the transfer portal with class:

• Communicate. You don't owe the school your future, but you do owe your teammates and coaches a direct conversation. Don't let them find out you're leaving in a social media post.

• Finish strong. If you’re still on the roster, stay professional. Be the hardest worker in the room until the day you sign with another program.

• Gratitude matters. You can be ready to leave while still thankful for the opportunities you had at your current school. A good sport acknowledges people who helped them get to this point, even as they plan to move on to something different.

Your value

You have a narrow window to maximize your athletic value. The NCAA has one thing right  — most of you will go pro in something other than sports. So take the meeting. Answer the call. Enter the portal if it's right for you. Discuss your career with people you trust, then you do you.

Have a great year!

©2026 Gail Sideman, gpublicity; The NIL Edge; NILPublicity.com 

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