Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin laments changes brought about by transfer portal: ‘We have free representation in college football’
College football has changed quite a bit over the past few years since hosting the transfer portal in 2018. And now, the addition of NIL has further complicated the recruiting process, as head coach Lane. Ole Miss’s Kiffin recently explained.
Kiffin laments some changes to college football in a recent interview with Mississippi Clarion-Ledger. He says the changes are starting to resemble something that looks a lot like free agency.
“I don’t think people really speak this way, but make no mistake: We have freedom in college football,” Kiffin said. “The kids a lot of times go to where they’re going to get paid the most. Maybe no one else is saying that. But the kids are saying ‘This is what I’m getting here from the NIL.” “
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Kiffin is not saying that getting paid players is bad. He just thinks the changes, intended to help players, might not necessarily do exactly that. Why? Because teams are under no obligation to keep their recruitment promises to players.
Teams can promise extra playtime. They can give you an estimated NIL number. But it’s also not to blame the coaches or programs that don’t deliver on those promises.
“At least in the NFL there’s a free agent contract so they know what it is and they have to sign it, versus places that say, ‘Hey, when you come here, you’ll get this much money’, and then when they get there, do they really understand?” Kiffin said. “It’s a new world.”
Indeed, it is a new world. Need proof? Just look at some of the key midfielder names in the transfer portal. Spencer Rattler, Bo Nix, Kedon Slovis, the list goes on.
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Between the NIL rules and the new NCAA rule allowing players to transfer for free once – players previously had to sit out a year on transfers, a rule meant to discourage transfers – there are great number of more players to move and a financial factor for players to consider when moving.
However, Kiffin notes that too many transfers have negatively impacted opportunities for some players at the lower tier, as scholarships are not available for unproven talent.
“When it comes to hitting the streets, there’s a lot of frustration with junior college coaches and high school coaches because they feel like kids on the last level to get offers and get to the top. the end of the class now doesn’t,” said Kiffin. “People are using them when transferring schools. So now we have high school kids who have nowhere to go when they already have one.”
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And Kiffin also notes that some players are seizing opportunities in the transfer portal and are ditching scholarships for greener pastures and promises of more playtime that aren’t always delivered. He hopes to see that change as the NCAA and its member organizations adjust to the new regulations.
“There’s a lot going on from what was initially a really good idea to help the kids,” Kiffin said.
