Series: 5 Big Changes Coming to College Football in the Next Decade (and How They Will Impact the Crimson Tide) - Reforming the Transfer Portal

Perhaps nothing in recent years changed the complexion of FBS football more than the transfer portal. The advent of the portal shifted the balance of power into the hands of athletes in significant ways.

It can be argued that the portal is a net positive in FBS football. Freshmen get earlier playing time to keep them happy. Coaches are pushed to balance playing time with the future transfer potential of players as a factor. No longer are big time programs able to stash talent to pad their competitive advantage. I believe the quality of the on-field product is better as a result of the portal. 

In years past, players like Jalen Hurts would not have seen meaningful reps (much less a starting role) on a Nick Saban coached team. We got Jalenad a freshman starter, at least in part I believe, because the transfer portal demanded adaptation. 

Landon Dickerson is a rare example of Alabama benefitting from more liberal transfer rules. One of the most popular Tide players of all time, Dickerson was a result of the transfer portal. His energy and toughness were pivotal on the road to 18 this year. Dickerson left Florida State for a fresh start after 2 injury-plagued seasons. At Alabama (perhaps because of the sports medicine and training staffs he joined in the transfer), he stayed healthy enough to become a consensus All-American and Remington Trophy winner.

On the other hand, few stories exist of players transferring from Alabama to greater success elsewhere. Alvin Kamara is perhaps the best example, but his real breakout came after his time at Tennessee. Looking through the rest of the Saban years at Alabama, it is hard to argue that the transfer portal has hurt the Tide on the field.

It is obvious that Coach Saban does not like the current iteration of the transfer portal. A year ago, he was quoted as saying:

I don't know how you manage a roster when this goes into effect,” Saban said. “I can't manage our roster now. Last year, we had eight seniors on our team. We had seven guys go out for the draft and three graduate transfers or guys that ended up transferring. So instead of having 18 seniors, you've got eight. You really have a three-year program at a place like this. I'm not necessarily saying it's going to hurt our program because we'll do a hell of a job recruiting players leaving other places to come here. But is that good for college football?

Despite his comments, the evidence indicates that Coach Saban will continue to negotiate current transfer rules with great success. He is adaptable, and he runs an adaptable program. Conquering the transfer portal is unlikely to befuddle Coach Saban.

Each off season, pundits debate the transfer portal. Second tier programs lament the investment they lose when players move on through the portal. No team is better positioned than the Tide to absorb losses of talent. Will those losses catch up to Alabama occasional? Surely. Will they cripple Alabama? Not regularly.

Transfer rules make for great offseason conversation, but they are not a huge concern for the Tide. Do you agree or disagree? Share you thoughts here and let’s talk!

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