The introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) into college football has shaken things up, to put it mildly. When you mix that with the NCAA transfer portal, which became legal in 2018, the sport looks almost unrecognizable compared to just a few years ago.
Players now have more ways to get paid and move between schools. But, honestly, it hasn’t all been sunshine—these changes have also made tampering a much bigger issue, with rival coaches trying to poach players into the portal.
The NCAA is actually considering some pretty harsh penalties to stop coaches from playing dirty. NIL, the transfer portal, and all the drama around tampering have made college football more complicated than ever.
The Intersection of NIL and the Transfer Portal
Since NIL became legal in 2021, college football players have been able to make money off their own names and brands. That shift came just a few years after the NCAA launched the transfer portal, letting athletes look for new teams much more easily.
Now, these two things are tangled together. Players often use the portal to chase better NIL deals, and sometimes it feels like the whole system is just about finding bigger paydays.
Not every transfer story starts with a player, though. Plenty of times, coaches from other schools reach out first, nudging athletes into the portal with promises of more money or playing time.
This kind of tampering has become a pretty big ethical mess in the college football world. Some folks are worried it’s getting out of hand.
Recent Tampering Incidents
A few cases have really put tampering in the spotlight. Take linebacker Luke Ferrelli—he left California for Clemson, then suddenly switched his commitment to Ole Miss.
Clemson’s head coach, Dabo Swinney, didn’t hold back and called out Ole Miss’s Pete Golding, accusing him of luring Ferrelli into the portal.
Another messy situation happened when LSU went after a quarterback early in the 2026 offseason. Demond Williams Jr., Washington’s starter, jumped into the portal just days after signing an extension with the Huskies.
His agency dropped him, and Washington even threatened legal action. Williams ended up staying at Washington and later said he’d gotten some bad advice about the whole thing.
Proposed Measures to Combat Tampering
The NCAA’s looking for ways to crack down on tampering. One idea on the table is suspending head coaches for six games if they’re caught.
Urban Meyer, who’s won three national titles and now works as a FOX Sports analyst, weighed in on *The Triple Option* podcast. He thinks coaches who lie to NCAA investigators should basically be done for good. He also said athletic directors need to be held responsible, since coaches answer to them.
Case Studies: Miami’s Tampering Controversies
Miami’s been in hot water over tampering twice in the last couple of offseasons. In 2025, Wisconsin defensive back Xavier Lucas entered the portal after signing NIL deals with the Badgers, and Wisconsin ended up suing Miami.
Then, in 2026, Duke quarterback Darian Mensah entered the portal on the very last day of the window, even though he had a contract from his transfer from Tulane. Duke sued Mensah, but they eventually settled and let him move to Miami.
The Future of NIL and the Transfer Portal
The introduction of NIL and the transfer portal has changed college football in big ways. Players now have more chances than ever for financial gain and career moves.
But these changes aren’t all positive. Tampering is becoming a real headache for everyone involved.
The NCAA says it’s working on this issue. They’re talking about possible penalties and putting more pressure on schools to play fair.
For more information on this topic, you can read the original article on Sports Illustrated.
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