CFB Transfer Portal Ripped as 'the Biggest S--t Show' by Former SEC Coach

College football coaches are not a fan of the current system for the transfer portal.

"It's the biggest s--t show," a former SEC assistant told Jesse Simonton of On3 regarding the portal in the NIL age. "I see all these young guys here and think, 'Boys, you really want to do this?'"

"We've opened up Pandora's box," one SEC player personnel director added.

There are a few ironies to the complaint regarding the transfer portal. The first is that college football coaches change schools all the time without all of the hand-wringing.

The second is that if players were actually treated like employees and allowed to sign contracts, rather than the murkier system of only technically being allowed to make money on name, image and likeness rights, schools could sign them to deals with a set period to remain with the program.

But there are pain points with the current system, namely having the portal open while bowl season is ongoing.

Many coaches suggested to Simonton a system with a set transfer portal window in the spring. That would allow the season to end; high school recruiting could go through its own progression; coaches would have a chance to consult with players eager to depart or would have time to set up visits with incoming transfers; and schools that advance deep in the playoffs wouldn't be punished with a shorter window to land transfers.

It's clear the NIL world and transfer portal needs more, and better, structure. But limiting player mobility isn't a viable solution.