Lane Kiffin: 'It's a Shame' Players Can't Transfer Amid Fall CFB Postponements

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

With the Big Ten and Pac-12 announcing the postponement of their fall sports seasons, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin lamented the inability for college football players to easily transfer to another school, calling it a "shame."

A player would need to receive a waiver from the NCAA to be immediately eligible upon transferring. Otherwise, he'd be sitting on the sideline for 2020.

Kiffin said Tuesday on SEC Now that the NCAA should make an exception for this year given how the COVID-19 pandemic has upended college sports:

It's worth noting that Kiffin would likely stand to gain from the NCAA's allowing players to transfer without penalty since the SEC is planning on staging a season in the fall. The conference rolled out its schedule Monday.

While coaching at FAU, Kiffin targeted players who were either graduate transfers or entered the transfer portal, so it stands to reason he'd attempt to capitalize on any relaxing of transfer rules.

Individual schools can't be blamed for the spread of a global pandemic, nor should conferences be punished for canceling or postponing athletics in part due to health concerns.

A college career is short, though, and those with pro aspirations potentially have future earnings on the line. Waiting around for a year won't exactly aid in a draft prospect's development.

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The NCAA has made exceptions to its transfer rules in the past. Players from Penn State and Ole Miss were allowed to leave without penalty when each of those schools received formal sanctions.

It would appear no such exception will be forthcoming because of the pandemic, and the matter may be moot if the SEC, ACC and Big 12 join the Big Ten and Pac-12 and end up scrapping a fall season.