Transferring to a different college’s athletic program is a reality for many student-athletes. Players seek a transfer for various reasons, and they have used a record number of new NCAA transfer options within the last three years.
In October 2018, the NCAA transfer portal revolutionized how student-athletes transfer between colleges. The portal grants immediate eligibility, allowing student-athletes to transfer without sitting out a season.
Before the transfer portal, student-athletes looking to transfer had to sit out a year and complete one academic year at their new university.
The NCAA said it created the portal to manage the transfer process from start to finish and allow student-athletes to make their desire to transfer known publicly, according to its website.