FRISCO, Texas — Within the past three years, nearly a third of the Big 12's football coaches have, in a way, transferred. The group is divided on a new rule that affects the freedom players have to do the same.
Beginning in October, student-athletes will be free to transfer without permission from their current school or coach; in each case, the player will inform the school of his or her decision, and the university enters the name into a national database. Once players are in the database, any coach is free to contact them.
Previously, schools often blocked transfers to certain institutions, particularly teams in the same conference, on future schedules or that were otherwise rivals.