The transfer portal has become a staple of college football roster management since it formed in the fall of 2018. Before, players were required to sit a year before becoming eligible; now, the NCAA grants players a one-time waiver to transfer without penalty and with immediate eligibility.
In 2020, 10.6% of FBS starters were transfers, according to SportSource Analytics. But in 2022, that number nearly doubled, as 20.9% of FBS starters were transfers.
Many teams have used the portal to their betterment. More than half of Lincoln Riley's starting production came via the transfer portal, including Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams.