Portal Closing

[GV4444]

Curious question.  Let's say you are national qualifier at top 10 or top 20 school.  On May 1, your school signs a top 8 guy out of the portal at your weight class.   You are 90% sure you are going to lose your starting spot.  What are your options with the portal now closed?

 

[cowcards]

8 minutes ago, GV4444 said:

Curious question.  Let's say you are national qualifier at top 10 or top 20 school.  On May 1, your school signs a top 8 guy out of the portal at your weight class.   You are 90% sure you are going to lose your starting spot.  What are your options with the portal now closed?

 

Reminder - the portal means nothing and you can transfer at any time. 

[nhs67]

9 minutes ago, cowcards said:

Reminder - the portal means nothing and you can transfer at any time. 

This, pretty much.

[cl415]

9 minutes ago, cowcards said:

Reminder - the portal means nothing and you can transfer at any time. 

Not true anymore.

“programs that sign a transfer student-athlete, add a transfer student-athlete to a roster, or allow a transfer student-athlete to participate in athletically related activities before the student-athlete is entered into the NCAA Transfer Portal. 

Penalties — which are automatically triggered — include a suspension of the respective sport's head coach for 50% of a season and a fine of 20% of that sport's budget.”

https://www.ncaa.org/news/2026/4/1/media-center-di-cabinet-adopts-new-rules-to-address-ghost-transfers-for-all-sports.aspx

[Spencerlee]

28 minutes ago, nhs67 said:

This, pretty much.

Nope

[GV4444]

I know last year, some guys just enrolled at a new school in the fall and joined the team.  I'm not sure they can do that anymore, but I could be wrong.  It sucks if they can't.   You basically lose a year if they bring in a better hired gun.

[ionel]

26 minutes ago, cl415 said:

Not true anymore.

 

“programs that sign a transfer student-athlete, add a transfer student-athlete to a roster, or allow a transfer student-athlete to participate in athletically related activities before the student-athlete is entered into the NCAA Transfer Portal. 

Penalties — which are automatically triggered — include a suspension of the respective sport's head coach for 50% of a season and a fine of 20% of that sport's budget.”

https://www.ncaa.org/news/2026/4/1/media-center-di-cabinet-adopts-new-rules-to-address-ghost-transfers-for-all-sports.aspx

Are you suggesting we now have rules?  If rules aren't enforced are the really "rules?"

[Gene Mills Fan]

1 hour ago, GV4444 said:

Curious question.  Let's say you are national qualifier at top 10 or top 20 school.  On May 1, your school signs a top 8 guy out of the portal at your weight class.   You are 90% sure you are going to lose your starting spot.  What are your options with the portal now closed?

 

Are you asking for Zach Ryder or a friend?

[ionel]

22 minutes ago, Gene Mills Fan said:

Are you asking for Zach Ryder or a friend?

... hey now! 

[Gene Mills Fan]

6 minutes ago, ionel said:

... hey now! 

DT chip off the old block

[ionel]

1 hour ago, Gene Mills Fan said:

DT chip off the old block

Pretty sure Ryder will be rehabing from surgery.  

[mr.nonothingatall]

2 hours ago, ionel said:

Are you suggesting we now have rules?  If rules aren't enforced are the really "rules?"

I just looked it up, in the last 10 years ..... Yes 10! There has been only 9 violations investigated in d1 wrestling by the NCAA. 

8 of those were iowa&Iowa states gambling issues. WHICH, was an investigation originally started by the state of Iowa, and then handed over to the NCAA. (Further proof that the NCAA does not enforce any of there own policy)

The other was gable stevesons, suspension during his sexual assault investigation, where he was ultimately reinstated.  Again, this investigation was started by an outside policing agency, and then the NCAA was forced to launch there own. 

NCAA is only here to make money, not to enforce any of the policy they create. At least not in the wrestling world, or in most of the sports. They are not here to "do what's best for the athletes" they are there to make money off the athletes. 

[ionel]

3 minutes ago, mr.nonothingatall said:

I just looked it up, in the last 10 years ..... Yes 10! There has been only 9 violations investigated in d1 wrestling by the NCAA. 

8 of those were iowa&Iowa states gambling issues. WHICH, was an investigation originally started by the state of Iowa, and then handed over to the NCAA. (Further proof that the NCAA does not enforce any of there own policy)

The other was gable stevesons, suspension during his sexual assault investigation, where he was ultimately reinstated.  Again, this investigation was started by an outside policing agency, and then the NCAA was forced to launch there own. 

NCAA is only here to make money, not to enforce any of the policy they create. At least not in the wrestling world, or in most of the sports. They are not here to "do what's best for the athletes" they are there to make money off the athletes. 

nonorulesatall 

[Gene Mills Fan]

1 minute ago, ionel said:

Pretty sure Ryder will be rehabing from surgery.  

Damn your correct; so no OKST PSU dodgeball game?

[ionel]

2 minutes ago, Gene Mills Fan said:

Damn your correct; so no OKST PSU dodgeball game?

Not for ZR at least.  

[nhs67]

3 hours ago, Spencerlee said:

Nope

Will believe whatever sanctions are true when we see them.

Grad transfers can do wtf ever they want.

[cl415]

3 hours ago, ionel said:

Are you suggesting we now have rules?  If rules aren't enforced are the really "rules?"

These are new and implemented because of major sports. It’s going to be very cut and dry. Unless they are a grad transfer, they must use the portal. The old days are gone. Believe it or don’t believe it, but it’s true. 

[MoveCountermove]

4 hours ago, cowcards said:

Reminder - the NCAA means nothing and you can transfer at any time. 

FTFY

[MoveCountermove]

1 hour ago, Gene Mills Fan said:

Damn your correct; so no OKST PSU dodgeball game?

 

1 hour ago, ionel said:

Not for ZR at least.  

Shame on both of you. Patches O’Houlihan played from a wheelchair. Wasn’t even necessary for him to drink his own urine

[CHROMEBIRD]

This isn't anything new. Coaches have always been able to recruit over their starters. Usually, this sort of thing is handled at the end of the season with a frank discussion between the coaches and athlete so everyone's on the same page whether the starter's spot is secure or if they're being shown the door. If that gentleman's agreement is breached and the athlete gets recruited over anyway, there aren't a ton of options. Which is also why it isn't a good look for the coach, recruiting wise. It'll be even worse when the athletes who are grandfathered-in as Designated Student Athletes could get straight up cut from the team due to roster caps (athletes tagged as DSAs don't count toward the limit even if they transfer).

If the athlete is close to getting their degree, they could maybe jam in a bunch of summer classes, graduate early, and transfer outside the portal window. If there's some sort of emergency, like a financial crisis, urgent family matter, or serious illness you could petition the NCAA for a waiver to enter the portal after it is closed. None of these are great options, obviously. 

If there's any uncertainty about keeping your spot in the lineup, the best option is to be proactive and put your name in the portal as an insurance policy. No one in the portal is forced to transfer, and it gives you protection after the window closes.

Also, I know the NCAA is a joke when it comes to enforcement, but earlier this month they passed a rule specifically against transferring outside of the portal.

https://www.ncaa.org/news/2026/4/1/media-center-di-cabinet-adopts-new-rules-to-address-ghost-transfers-for-all-sports.aspx

 

[cowcards]

5 hours ago, cl415 said:

Not true anymore.

 

“programs that sign a transfer student-athlete, add a transfer student-athlete to a roster, or allow a transfer student-athlete to participate in athletically related activities before the student-athlete is entered into the NCAA Transfer Portal. 

Penalties — which are automatically triggered — include a suspension of the respective sport's head coach for 50% of a season and a fine of 20% of that sport's budget.”

https://www.ncaa.org/news/2026/4/1/media-center-di-cabinet-adopts-new-rules-to-address-ghost-transfers-for-all-sports.aspx

That's not going to be enforceable because the courts aren't going to let the NCAA to backwards on transfers without executive exceptions. They aren't going to be able to limit what a regular student is permitted to do. There are a ton of valid reasons that a student would want to transfer between when the portal closes and the next school year. The NCAA isn't going to be able to stop someone for doing it. 

 

Let's say that magically they are able to enforce the rule, you are going to see every athlete in every sport enter the portal just in case they need to go somewhere else. That's going to cause even more chaos that there is now. 

Edited April 16 by cowcards

[CHROMEBIRD]

37 minutes ago, cowcards said:

That's not going to be enforceable because the courts aren't going to let the NCAA to backwards on transfers without executive exceptions. They aren't going to be able to limit what a regular student is permitted to do. There are a ton of valid reasons that a student would want to transfer between when the portal closes and the next school year. The NCAA isn't going to be able to stop someone for doing it. 

 

Let's say that magically they are able to enforce the rule, you are going to see every athlete in every sport enter the portal just in case they need to go somewhere else. That's going to cause even more chaos that there is now. 

The NCAA isn't doing anything to stop athletes from transferring; entering the portal is voluntary but grants them an eligibility exception so they don't have to sit out a year at their new school. If only there was a portal in Metcalf's days!

Also the reason why you don't see every athlete in every sport enter the portal "just in case" is because when an athlete informs their compliance manager that they want to enter the portal, the school could then reduce or cancel all of their athletics aid at the end of the term if they wanted to. Athletes who enter the portal but don't transfer could come back to lesser or no aid if they don't have the talent or leverage. 

[cowcards]

30 minutes ago, CHROMEBIRD said:

The NCAA isn't doing anything to stop athletes from transferring; entering the portal is voluntary but grants them an eligibility exception so they don't have to sit out a year at their new school. If only there was a portal in Metcalf's days!

Also the reason why you don't see every athlete in every sport enter the portal "just in case" is because when an athlete informs their compliance manager that they want to enter the portal, the school could then reduce or cancel all of their athletics aid at the end of the term if they wanted to. Athletes who enter the portal but don't transfer could come back to lesser or no aid if they don't have the talent or leverage. 

While they aren't keeping them from transferring, they are forcing them to not be able to by the penalties on the other side. It's still a barrier to transfer and an attempt to limit an athlete's options. The courts have already said they can't be limited. 

You are correct on the cancelation or reduction of aid, but why would a school end up doing that if they want the wrestler to stay? That's a great way to convince a wrestler you want to keep to leave .

[CHROMEBIRD]

1 hour ago, cowcards said:

While they aren't keeping them from transferring, they are forcing them to not be able to by the penalties on the other side. It's still a barrier to transfer and an attempt to limit an athlete's options. The courts have already said they can't be limited. 

You are correct on the cancelation or reduction of aid, but why would a school end up doing that if they want the wrestler to stay? That's a great way to convince a wrestler you want to keep to leave .

I guess I could see some lawsuit challenging the NCAA bylaw on the transfer rule, but the difference between normal students and student athletes is that the latter is in a private contract with the school. When the athlete tells compliance that they want to enter the portal, it signals intent to exit the contract.

Of course, if a coach really wants a kid to stay they'll try to convince them not to transfer. But sometimes out of necessity, the program has to consider that whatever aid the athlete was receiving will now be freed up at the end of the term and can be spent on someone else. As I mentioned, if it's a top tier athlete, then they'll probably have the leverage to hang out in the portal and come back and get their revshare and other aid back, or even get more money. But the vast majority of athletes don't have that advantage, and programs can't make roster plans or manage their budget if a kid is going to sit indefinitely on the fence.