The Transfer Portal Impact on Non-Revenue Sports

College rosters are being built differently than they were even a few years ago. The rise of the transfer portal have changed how decisions are made—by both coaches and athletes. What often gets lost in the conversation is who is driving which changes, and how those combined pressures are quietly reshaping the experience for athletes, especially in non-revenue sports.

Below is a clearer breakdown of what’s driving today’s recruiting and roster trends—and why families need to understand both sides of the equation.

• Coaches are prioritizing experienced transfer athletes over high school recruits

Coaches are under increasing pressure to win immediately and manage tighter rosters. Transfer athletes come with game film, college experience, and physical maturity, making them lower-risk options than freshmen who need time to develop.

• Short-term, transactional roster management

Roster spots are no longer viewed as four-year commitments in many programs. Coaches are making year-to-year decisions to address immediate needs, often cycling athletes in and out more quickly than in the past.

• Reduced investment in long-term development

In non-revenue and lower-profile sports, coaches may feel they no longer have the margin to develop athletes slowly. As a result, fewer young players are given the runway to grow into roles over time.

• Student athletes believe in “easy opportunity” through transferring

There is a growing perception that transferring automatically leads to more playing time, a bigger role, or better outcomes—when in reality, many athletes lose scholarships or struggle to find a new fit.

• Less patience for the traditional development arc

Athletes may be less willing to wait through growth phases, opting to move when results or rewards aren’t immediate.

• An unstable and crowded marketplace

The roster churn has created a cycle of constant movement that benefits very few in the long run.

• Earlier and more strategic planning requirements for families

Families in all sports—not just football and basketball—must plan earlier and think more carefully about fit, development, and long-term opportunity.

While the transfer portal dynamics are most reported in football and men’s and women’s basketball, their impact is felt just as acutely in non-revenue sports. When immediate contribution becomes the priority, the developmental experiences that build resilience, confidence, and belonging are harder to come by.