Georgia's Kirby Smart Was Told 'No Crying from the Yacht' amid Transfer Portal Debate

Even the best programs in college football have challenges when it comes to navigating the constant change and juggling happening in the sport, but Georgia head coach Kirby Smart suggested some don't want to hear those teams complain.

"The biggest decision that has to be made in college football right now, by far to me, is when is the transfer portal window. And is there one or two," he told reporters Tuesday. 

He also said (1:30 mark), "When I brought that up as a complaint or a problem, it was told to me that there's 'no crying from the yacht.'"

Ironically, programs such as Georgia that are consistently competing for national championships may face more challenges, at least when it comes to the current calendar in the sport.

This past season, there were multiple transfer windows with the first one from Dec. 9-28, 2024, and the second one from April 16-25, 2025. That first one was particularly difficult, as it came right after the early signing period from Dec. 4-6 and as teams were preparing for bowl games and the College Football Playoff.

That meant teams such as Georgia that made the CFP field had to simultaneously recruit high school prospects, recruit members of their own team to stay on the roster instead of entering the portal, look at various portal options for players from other schools that entered, and prepare for games with championship stakes.

It had a real impact, as there were players from multiple CFP teams to enter the portal before they had a chance to compete for a championship. Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula was one of them.

"The current NCAA post-season model creates a challenge for student athletes," he wrote. "The overlapping CFB playoff & transfer portal timeline has forced me into an impossible decision. After speaking at length with my family and coaches, it is with a heavy heart that I announce my intentions to enter the transfer portal and depart from the team to explore opportunities elsewhere."

It seems like Smart would like to create a system that avoids such situations that put players and teams in difficult positions with the CFP looming.

But it also seems like teams that are envious of Georgia's success don't want to hear any complaints.