The 8:05

Through the ‘portal’

Headshot of Michael Armini
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When most people hear the term “transfer portal” they conjure up images of the Harry Potter movies. That eerie train station where Harry and his friends find a secret passage that leads them to Hogwarts Castle. 

In real life, not a week goes by that I don’t hear colleagues talking about the NCAA transfer portal—the new database of college athletes seeking to switch schools. I realize most readers of the 8:05 have only a passing interest in sports, but the advent of the transfer portal is having a significant effect on college life. 

The portal allows student-athletes to transfer to another college or university (this next part is important) without having to sit out a season. That’s a big change. It used to be that when a student-athlete transferred, they had to spend a full year on the bench. No player wants to sit out. Also, by using the portal there is no limit to how many times a student can transfer. Another big change. 

While some have argued that the portal empowers students by giving them options, there’s a real cost—at least in my humble view. Part of what college teaches students is tenacity. And toughness. And resilience. But with the transfer portal we’re seeing student-athletes flee their teams (and their schools) if a coach doesn’t give them enough minutes on the field or on the court. Or if they encounter any other bumps in the road. It’s an easy escape. And maniacal parents aren’t helping. The fact is, many parents of college athletes think their kid is going to be the next Steph Curry or Tom Brady. It’s a problem. 

For their part, coaches are scrambling to keep up. The sports most impacted are football and basketball. At Northeastern, soon after the basketball season ended, we saw 6’7” guard Jahmyl Telford leave for Butler University in Indiana. Soon after we saw Luka Sakota, a 6’6” guard, depart Harvard for Northeastern. This king of fluid movement is likely to become routine. 

Jahmyl Telford playing basketball for Northeastern and Luka Sakota playing for Harvard.

And if you take this ramped up transferring—combined with the new “Name Image and Likeness” opportunities for players—it’s clear that we are moving rapidly toward the professionalization of college sports. I will get into the “NIL” madness in a future edition.

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