Certain challenges have no clear-cut answers. These issues can be perplexing or downright troubling, similar to complex problems like the Riemann hypothesis.

This dilemma particularly applies to the transfer portal deadlines in college football.

Coaches, from Steve Sarkisian at Texas to Lane Kiffin at Mississippi, have voiced their frustrations over how the winter transfer period complicates the postseason landscape, and they raise valid points.

The transfer portal opened its doors on December 9 and will shut on December 28, allowing athletes just 20 days to make their choice to stay or transfer. For teams engaged in the College Football Playoff, players get an extra five days after their season concludes.

This scheduling has led to instances where athletes from playoff teams decided to leave their current rosters before their season is technically over.

A notable example is Duke’s quarterback, Maalik Murphy, who entered the portal just last week ahead of the Gator Bowl against Ole Miss. His departure means Duke will play a backup in the bowl game as they aim for a 10th win, which would tie their record for the most wins in a single season.

Kiffin criticized the situation during the Gator Bowl press conference, calling it “a dumb system,” drawing parallels to how such circumstances wouldn’t be tolerated in the NFL where the postseason is respected.

Meanwhile, at Texas, several players entered the portal ahead of their first-round playoff match against Clemson, with some choosing to remain on the team for playoff preparations despite their transfer statuses.

Sarkisian highlighted the absurdity of the current structure by comparing it to NFL players becoming free agents right at playoff announcements, pointing out the confusion it creates in college football.

However, the NFL is not a direct comparison. NFL players are bound by employment contracts, whereas the NCAA insists that college athletes do not fit that employee model. Furthermore, it’s crucial to remember that this is still college football, where student-athletes’ academic commitments influence transfer timelines.

Finding a Solution for Winter Transfer Woes: A Proposal

Adjusting the transfer portal dates to occur after the season might assist coaches striving for a national championship, but it’s also important to ensure that transferring students can enroll in their new schools in time for the upcoming semester. With the expanded playoff format, the season now extends into the third week of January.

Looking at Texas and Ole Miss, the spring semester starts on January 13 at Texas, just a week before the national championship is played, while Ole Miss kicks off their semester on January 21, the day after the championship game.

So, what if we completely remove the winter transfer period and consolidate it into a single window in April? This would align better with both the playoff schedule and the academic calendar, but it would lead to complaints from coaches who argue that missing out on transfers just before spring practice could hinder their preparations for the next season.

Take Auburn, for instance, which needs to find a new starting quarterback. They announced on Saturday the signing of Jackson Arnold from Oklahoma. The December transfer window allows for his timely enrollment and integration into spring practice.

Would Auburn’s coach Hugh Freeze prefer leading spring practice with a makeshift quarterback while waiting until May to get Arnold in? Likely not.

Here’s a bold idea to tackle this transfer conundrum: eliminate the December transfer period and also get rid of spring practice altogether. Instead, maintain one transfer window post-season and shift to summer preseason workouts.

If colleges want to emulate the NFL model, they should fully commit to that approach—where there are no spring games in the pro league.

The NFL begins organized team activities in May, whereas many college teams kick off spring practice in February. This makes the December transfer window crucial for coaches seeking to reshape their rosters before spring sessions commence.

Considering removing the December transfer period is worth contemplating, especially if it accompanies a cancellation of spring practice.

As Athletes Shift Teams, Coaches Face Changes Too

Currently, players who enter the portal can still be approached by other schools, but they are not barred from participating in postseason matchups with their current team.

However, it can be challenging for a player contemplating a transfer to stay focused on postseason preparations.

For instance, Preston Stone, the backup quarterback for SMU, entered the portal but continues with the Mustangs as they gear up for their matchup with Penn State in the first round of the CFP. Conversely, backup quarterback Beau Pribula from Penn State has also entered the portal, yet he has chosen to leave the team.

“I feel terrible for our kids,”

“There are kids all over the nation dealing with this,” stated SMU coach Rhett Lashlee during a press conference. “No other sport operates with free agency mid-season. It’s unfortunate. It’s a shame.”

“(Players) shouldn’t have to face such decisions during the season,” he further explained.

Yet, what would the alternative be? Starting the season in early August and wrapping it up by Christmas? That would bring a host of other challenges.

Players aren’t the only ones who are leaving before the season wraps up. After winning the Sun Belt championship, Marshall opted out of their bowl game due to a significant transfer wave, even amidst their standout season.

What triggered this? Coach Charles Huff from Marshall accepted a position at Southern Mississippi just one day after the Sun Belt championship, following unsuccessful negotiations with his previous school.

I’m not here to critique Huff. He’s not alone in leaving his team before the postseason.

Most college football coaching changes happen in November and December, well ahead of the playoff season. Would it truly shock you if a coach from a playoff-bound team shifted to another job before the playoffs end?

Indeed, it’s a flawed system, impacting both players and coaches, with the academic calendar imposing limits on the transfer timeline.

No straightforward solution exists to fix all issues, and satisfying everyone feels as challenging as solving a complex math problem, but doing away with the December transfer window and eliminating spring practice could lead to more stability.