Following the unique Grove Bowl Games on Saturday, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin took the opportunity to express his discontent with the current state of college football’s spring transfer portal window, labeling it as a “bad” system.
Doing spring different in the 'Sip 🔥#GroveBowlGames pic.twitter.com/wxq9p9mhLx
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) April 15, 2024
In a statement to reporters, Kiffin voiced his concerns, stating, “We still have one practice Monday, exit meetings with players and stuff and, you know, when free agency opens — but people are already kind of announcing they’re going into it as you see around the country.”
In Oxford yesterday @Lane_Kiffin and Ole Miss showed what the future of spring games should be: Fun, injury-free and nothing that could lead to transfer portal departures/poaching.
My story for @cbssports: https://t.co/12WokvQZSU
— John Talty (@JTalty) April 14, 2024
He emphasized, “So it’s just where we are. Like I’ve said before, it probably sounds weird for me because I think we take advantage, and we maximize the system that’s in place as well as anybody. And it’s benefited us as well as anybody around the country. But it’s really a really poor system.”
Lane Kiffin Rips The Current College Football Transfer Portal System
And he's someone who has benefited from it!
Details: https://t.co/ssDWrPNSXohttps://t.co/ssDWrPNSXo
— BroBible (@BroBible) April 15, 2024
Kiffin’s comments come amidst a backdrop of changes in NCAA transfer rules, including a December court injunction allowing athletes to transfer multiple times while still retaining eligibility for the 2024 season.
Despite acknowledging that his program has benefited from the system, Kiffin expressed frustration with its flaws.
“And here we go again, guys already announced, and they just got somewhere in January. They’re leaving again already. So, they went and got paid. You know, took up spots and it’s not their fault. It’s not the players fault at all,” Kiffin explained.
Lane Kiffin is optimistic Ole Miss can keep its No. 1 portal class intact, says @JTalty, but that's in spite of a unregulated system he hates.
"Here we go again." https://t.co/rkPiocoH4L pic.twitter.com/vw2bYYoLoP
— 247Sports (@247Sports) April 14, 2024
He drew parallels between the college football transfer portal and the NFL’s system, suggesting that if the NFL had similar rules, players would also take advantage of them.
“I mean, this is a system that’s created that they’re utilizing in the NFL. [Imagine the NFL had two] windows a year and you could opt in every year or twice a year, guys would do it … So it is what it is.”
Just spotted Lane Kiffin trying to scope out who’s coming in the front door pic.twitter.com/taC45hDvHc
— Transfer Portal (@NCAAPortal) April 16, 2024
From the Kadyn Proctor situation to star players such as Penn State’s KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Oregon State’s Damien Martinez abruptly entering the transfer portal, it’s clear that we’re in the heart of the madness.
"I'm not overstating this: It will be the wildest transfer portal era that you've ever seen. And it's gonna completely gut some of your teams."
🗣️ @LateKickJosh goes off on the "harsh, violent reality of the no-rules transfer portal era" that will be coming this spring pic.twitter.com/E0SzVjANCw
— 247Sports (@247Sports) April 10, 2024
Clearly, something needs to be done.
Everyone knows that the system as it’s currently structured is not healthy or sustainable in any way, shape or form … But yet nothing has been done. Nothing has been fixed. At least as of now.
Guardrails need to be put in place when it comes to the rules and structure of NIL and the transfer portal.
🤔 @KirbySmartUGA Where did you learn that? https://t.co/XdRkCDIm9t
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) April 16, 2024
What are your thoughts on Kiffin’s comments?
What are your suggestions to help get college football back on track?
What exactly needs to be done???
This is how you spread the Ole Miss brand. Well done, @Lane_Kiffin
Come back this season for some special football games, @joeyjaws https://t.co/IZnRvmUtjB
— Everything Ole Miss (@EverythingRebs) April 13, 2024