A guide to surviving the transfer portal era for the average college football fan
The Nico Iamaleava saga came to a merciful conclusion the other day when he officially transferred from Tennessee to UCLA. How ugly the situation played out publicly feels different from other recent high-profile transfers we've since the introduction of the transfer portal. Between the potential of players asking for more money each season, the possibility of holding out of games, Spring rosters getting completely gutted, and other scenarios that are sure to pop up - I think it's fair to say some fans are reaching their boiling point with the portal. I do my best to stay away from writing about portal stuff here, but I threw together what I think is a handy guide on how to keep yourself sane in this new era of college football.
A guide to surviving the transfer portal era for the average college football fan
Accept reality when it comes to player movement
The toothpaste isn't ever going back in the tube when it comes to the portal - whether you like it or not. The NCAA's lack of foresight for decades led us to this point, and there's no going back. Maybe there are tweaks to how it works along the way, but the portal –and the crazy roster movement that comes with it– is here to stay. The sooner you make peace with that, the better your mental health as a fan will be.
Don't feel like you have to be fully invested in the offseason anymore
This is bad to admit as someone who operates a college football website, but I'll keep it real with you: The Nico Iamaleava saga is 'exhibit A' on why I don’t fully lock in on upcoming season anymore until we get to July. So many rosters around the country will look completely different from what they are now that it's foolish to believe you have a good read on any team who hit the portal hard. I keep up here and there, but it's too much movement and craziness for even me to want to invest in 5 months out from actual games. I know more than a few people who've become even more invested in the offseason because of how it can reshape their program, though. If that's you - more power to you!
If you're a fan of a program who's aggressive in the portal - dive in!
On that note, the great thing about the portal is how quick it can change your fortunes. Look at programs like Arizona State, Indiana, and Colorado last year. All three vigorously overhauled their roster in ways they couldn't pre-portal, and the results were astonishing. You don't have to go through a multi-year rebuild anymore to drastically improve, which should make any fan of a program that has even a bit of cash to throw around optimistic when things look bad. It's not a 100 percent guarantee for success, but the blueprint is there in ways it wasn't before.
Recognize that every transfer isn't the same
Some players leave their school for more money. Some do it for playing time. Some are 19/20 years olds getting great advice. Some are 19/20 year olds getting terrible advice. And whether you want to believe it or not, some get pushed into the portal by their coaches. Everyone has their own reason for jumping in the portal, and I hate seeing every decision get painted with the same brush. Which leads me to....