2025/26 Transfer Portal Thread

[walkenvol]

Students who participate in college athletics should have no more restrictions placed on their ability to transfer than any other students at the school. JMO

 

[wrangler]

Students who participate in college athletics should have no more restrictions placed on their ability to transfer than any other students at the school. JMO

It's my understanding that they don't have restrictions on transfer, only on playing.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

From struggling to beat out Merkslinger to having a better year than Joey as a redshirt freshman?

Sure!

You know that Heupel does not want to play true Freshmen, even when they are more talented. GMac is more talented than Merck and that has been show every time Merck has taken snaps in a game. I have seen a number of QBs in my 87 years and GMac has the most pure talent of the 3 QBs in the room.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Students who participate in college athletics should have no more restrictions placed on their ability to transfer than any other students at the school. JMO

There is a big difference in an athletes and non athletes in college. Regular students pay for their education while Universities pay for athletes to pla sports for the college. Athletes are under contract to play Which means tha break that contract or it is forgiven when an athlete transfers to another school.

 

[walkenvol]

It's my understanding that they don't have restrictions on transfer, only on playing.

Unless a band member is also restricted from participating in the band program at another school, then neither should athletes be restricted from playing sports at another school.

We don’t live in a socialist country where citizens have to obtain approval to switch jobs. Why should universities have any say in where an individual chooses to attend college or what activities they should be denied at another university. If UT wants to not allow incoming transfers to participate in sports then so be it, but UT and the NCAA shouldn’t have the authority to limit freedom of choice for student athletes at a competing university

 

[CAVPUT]

Depends on what happens with Aguilar

Nope. Can't wait on Aguilar. You do that and he isn't eligible and you've put yourself behind the 8 ball in '26. Appreciate the kid, but Heupel needs to get a starting QB from the portal pronto.

 

[MarcoVol]

Do we look at one of these transfer QBs? North texas, West Florida, or Raiola from Nebraska? Sellers? Something...

Depends if looking for a guaranteed starter. Raiola, Sellers, Sorsby gonna cost BIGLY.

 

[MarcoVol]

@Devo182 another reason they should have to join a conference before playing for a NC. Special treatment.

 

[deatojl]

Unless a band member is also restricted from participating in the band program at another school, then neither should athletes be restricted from playing sports at another school.

We don’t live in a socialist country where citizens have to obtain approval to switch jobs. Why should universities have any say in where an individual chooses to attend college or what activities they should be denied at another university. If UT wants to not allow incoming transfers to participate in sports then so be it, but UT and the NCAA shouldn’t have the authority to limit freedom of choice for student athletes at a competing university

High School athletes are subject to transfer eligibility rules, as well, and those rules are much more restrictive in some states. For instance, my son transferred schools after his 7th grade year. He didn't even play any sports at the school he was transferring from but was ineligible to play any sports for a year at the school he transferred to. That was only 9 years ago.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Students who participate in college athletics should have no more restrictions placed on their ability to transfer than any other students at the school. JMO

Yes they should have restrictions. They are getting paid. Players shouldn’t have nor deserve to be able to do whatever they want simply because they are getting paid.

 

[MarcoVol]

Yes they should have restrictions. They are getting paid. Players shouldn’t have nor deserve to be able to do whatever they want simply because they are getting paid.

Coaches get paid. Change schools all the time.

Charles Huff about to coach at his 3rd school in 3 years, all as a HC.

 

[GVol1966]

From struggling to beat out Merkslinger to having a better year than Joey as a redshirt freshman?

Sure!

Who struggled to beat out Merk?
From all I heard it wasn’t a struggle.

 

[Orangeslice13]

@Devo182 another reason they should have to join a conference before playing for a NC. Special treatment.

Or they just rank them 13th and say F you and your MOU.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Coaches get paid. Change schools all the time.

Charles Huff about to coach at his 3rd school in 3 years, all as a HC.

So what? That’s business. CEOs are always able to do lore than employees. Also, the players getting to do whatever they want seems to be doing wonders for the sport huh?

 

[MarcoVol]

So what? That’s business. CEOs are always able to do lore than employees. Also, the players getting to do whatever they want seems to be doing wonders for the sport huh?

You want HCs to be able to do whatever they want but not the players. A real “good for me but not for thee” thing going on here.

That’s the exact model the NCAA operated under for years.

It’s a business for players now as well. So when someone else is willing to pay them more….sorry, that’s just bidness.

Also position coaches/coordinators can leave anytime they want. They aren’t CEOs in this comparison. What gives?

 

[JohnnyD1024]

 

[CamVol8]

I just hope we have learned our lesson with the transfer portal. We need to attack it much much harder if we are serious about competing for titles

 

[therickbol]

I think I saw him on am episode of Landman

 

[MOOOOONEY]

@Devo182 another reason they should have to join a conference before playing for a NC. Special treatment.

Notre Dame hasn’t won a national championship since 1988.

There brand has declined significantly.

They were the 15th most watched team in 2025.

This ND bias is BS. They should be forced to join a P4 conference and receive no special treatment.

 

[InVOLuntary]

Coaches get paid. Change schools all the time.

Charles Huff about to coach at his 3rd school in 3 years, all as a HC.

Players get paid and coaches usually have penalties that punish them when they leave.

 

[MOOOOONEY]

Yes they should have restrictions. They are getting paid. Players shouldn’t have nor deserve to be able to do whatever they want simply because they are getting paid.

The portal and NIL have benefited college football.

Without the portal the Vols probably average 6 or 7 wins over the past 5 seasons.

 

[MarcoVol]

Players get paid and coaches usually have penalties that punish them when they leave.

I’m good with players having buyouts

 

[InVOLuntary]

I’m good with players having buyouts

Me too. I think contracts should be binding both ways.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

You know that Heupel does not want to play true Freshmen, even when they are more talented. GMac is more talented than Merck and that has been show every time Merck has taken snaps in a game. I have seen a number of QBs in my 87 years and GMac has the most pure talent of the 3 QBs in the room.

I think GMac is good, but I don't think as a redshirt freshman he will be ready for

LSU
at Georgia Tech
Alabama
at uscjr
at Texas A&M
Auburn
at Vandy
Texas

That said I commend your internet savvy elder Vol.

 

[all_volz]

Texas Tech went heavy because they haven’t been recruiting like we have.

We just need to grab 5-7 guys to go with our good classes.

We need that many on DL alone