Greg Sankey reveals SEC coaches prefer 10-day transfer portal window in January, against April-only portal

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey revealed where the majority of the league’s coaches stand when it comes to potential transfer portal adjustment. The timing of the portal windows going forward is a key point of contention.

Many have suggested moving to one transfer portal period, rather than the two that currently exist. Thoughts on when that lone period should come, though, have been mixed.

According to On3’s Andy Staples, Sankey said the SEC football coaches would prefer a 10-day transfer portal window in January. They’d also rather keep things as they currently exist — with a portal period in both December and later in the spring — than move to an April-only portal window.

SEC coaches have also opened up on the potential transfer portal adjustments at the league’s spring meetings this week. Suffice it to say there are some strong opinions.

Kirby Smart weighs in on transfer periods

Georgia coach Kirby Smart certainly has his opinions. In fact, he’s pretty open about them, too.

Starting with how it’s virtually impossible to manage the transfer portal as it currently exists — with the bulk of the transfers done in mid-December, when teams are readying and playing for conference championships, finishing up their semesters and getting ready to welcome a new class of freshmen via the signing class. The best way to handle it?

Smart suggested a January-only period, not just in the SEC, but everywhere. He’s one of the more vocal about that change.

“Every time we come in here we talk about December is absolutely crazy,” Smart said, before outlining when he thinks would be best. “Now let’s call it January, because hypothetically the portal opened in December, we’re leaning toward that thing opening in January and you get a little more stability in December in terms of let’s sign our high school recruits first, then let’s figure out in January where the semester break ends who’s staying and who’s going. So we compartmentalize. Let’s deal with this issue now. Let’s deal with this (other) issue now.”

That’s not what all the solutions have focused on — either inside or out of the SEC. There’s another out there that Smart believes would be pretty close to an abject disaster.

“We’re talking about taking this issue this January and moving it out all the way to April,” Smart said. “You think tampering’s a problem? Put that portal in April and see what teams do in January, February and March.”

Kirby Smart made a plea to anyone listening from the SEC spring meetings this week. Think long and hard about the move before making it.

“Just think about it now, because we’re getting ready to make a big decision and a lot of people believe, ‘Well the kids won’t be able to leave if we put it in April, they’ll have to stay the next semester,’” Smart said. “Oh no. They’ll be on your campus getting tampered with, collecting 33% of your cap before they leave with it. Not for that.”