Feb. 28, 2026, 9:11 a.m. CT

The NCAA football oversight committee recently proposed a set of serious penalties designed to keep teams from trying to circumvent the transfer portal this spring/summer, according to The Athletic’s Sam Khan Jr.

On Wednesday, the committee recommended that if FBS schools add a transfer who is not already in the portal and did not enter during the designated winter window, the program would incur several penalties, including the following:

The head coach of that school would be suspended for six games, including a prohibition on all football activities and administrative duties.A 20% fine of their football budget.A loss of five roster spots for the following season, regardless of whether the coach in charge during the time of the violation is still employed at the school.

This rule is being proposed because of the sport’s new single-window transfer period, which opened and closed in January. Last season, there was a second portal window in the spring, which was an opportunity for players who either didn’t like their spot on the depth chart or wanted/needed to find a new situation.

However, two notable names circumvented the portal last summer, unenrolling from their previous school and enroll at another, including defensive back Xavier Lucas and quarterback Jake Retzlaff. The NCAA’s new proposal is an effort to keep that from happening this time around.

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This rule should essentially shut down any player movement this offseason with the transfer portal window closed. These penalties — if approved — are too severe to make it worthwhile for a team to sign a player who unenrolls, no matter the caliber of the player seeking a new home.

This rule is a double-edged sword for LSU football. On one hand, it means the depth Lane Kiffin and his staff built throughout the roster would remain in place heading into next season. On the other hand, it would also mean the staff can’t add anyone new this offseason.

Ultimately, it’s good that LSU’s roster would be protected under this new rule, and it would be good for the game itself. Sure, it may be tempting to think about how LSU might benefit from Kiffin’s under-the-table recruiting talents this summer, but something needs to be done about the rampant issues in the game today. These penalties would be a significant step toward fixing them.