With the NCAA calendar year and transfer portal cycle re-starting on August 1st, it is time to take a closer look at some of the trends that have developed in recent years. The 2022/2023 portal cycle introduced a few substantial changes, including the introduction of the two windows during the winter and spring. Would the time constraints lessen the number of players entering the transfer portal? No, they would not. Here is a look at the number of FBS, FCS, D2 and D2 players who have entered the portal during the last four cycles. Both scholarship players and walk-ons are included in these numbers:
2022-2023 2021-2022 2020-2021 2019-2020
FBS 3,467 3,058 2,617 1,682
FCS 2,337 2,232 1,639 1,368
D2 2,563 2,263 1,658 1,565
D3 1,053 582 277 137
Total 9,420 8,135 6,191 4,752
As can be seen above, the number of players entering the transfer portal during the last four cycles has continued to steadily climb. By how much has each grown since the 2019/2020 cycle?
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FBS: +106.1%
FCS: +70.8%
D2: +63.7%
D3: +668.6%
Total: +98.2%
As these numbers show, attempts by the NCAA to try and slow down the flood of transfers has failed to this point. It is also unlikely that this trend will suddenly change in the near future. While it is possible and expected that the numbers plateau in the coming years, any lessening would come as a major surprise.
So now schools are tasked with managing their roster annually depending on how many players decide to enter the portal. Some are more successful at this than others, but each must find a way to try and prosper in this new college football world.
