The NCAA is looking to crack down on tampering in college football.
On Wednesday, the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee recommended that the Division I Cabinet adopt emergency legislation to address the issue. The committee proposed significant penalties for schools that add transfer student-athletes to their rosters if those players did not formally declare their intent to enter the transfer portal during the sport’s January window.
If the cabinet approves the proposal, the consequences would be immediate and severe. Should an enrolled student-athlete who was not active in the transfer portal participate in any athletic activity at a new school, the following penalties would apply:
- The head coach would be suspended for six games from all football-related duties, including recruiting and on-field coaching, as well as administrative responsibilities such as team meetings.
- The school would be fined 20% of its football budget.
- The program would be required to eliminate five roster spots for the following season, regardless of the head coach’s employment status.
The cabinet is set to vote on the proposal in April. If approved, the legislation would take effect immediately.
Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger reported Wednesday that the committee also discussed "several concepts related to the calendar," as well as keeping the transfer portal window in January, giving coaches flexibility to move some spring practices to the summer and allowing schools to open the season in Week 0 beginning in 2027.
