Time Running Out For Pac-12 Players To Transfer Following 2020 Season Postponement
Aug 21, 2020, 2:55 PM
Quarterback Cameron Rising and other players circle up as head coach Kyle Whittingham calls the team together as the University of Utah football team opens spring camp in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 2, 2020. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – When the Pac-12 opted to put a halt on their 2020 fall seasons many wondered whether or not key players within the conference would look to transfer in the hopes of playing this season.
It now seems as though those questions and concerns have been answered.
The vast majority of players will remain within the Pac-12 and will not transfer to the likes of the Big 12, SEC or ACC.
Reasons behind this are unknown, however, as the days continue to tick on by the college football season is quickly approaching for the conferences that remain stubborn and adamant in playing.
On Thursday, August 20th, the Schooler brothers from the University of Arizona collectively announced their intention to enter the transfer portal and pointed to the Pac-12’s decision to postpone fall sports until January 1, 2021.
Dear Tucson: pic.twitter.com/NkXpP1JByB
— Colin Schooler (@SchoolerColin) August 20, 2020
Time Is Running Out
On the latest episode of the It’s Utah’s World podcast, Tom Hackett and Steve Bartle discussed the challenges in which any collegiate athlete would face if they opted to transfer due to the COVID-19 postponement of the fall season.
When a player transfers, many aspects follow. For example, one of the biggest challenges for any player transferring is learning a new playbook.
The SEC and Big 12 are expected to start their 10-game conference-only slate on the 26th of September while the ACC is hopeful to kick things off on the 12th of September. For players that play a position of great detail such as the quarterback or offensive line, learning a new playbook in such a short amount of time is almost impossible.
Furthermore, for a player to be granted immediate eligibility they would be required to have already graduated, which narrows the pot of players instantly.
“Having all of the pieces of the puzzle fall your way and then to gain the respect of both the coaches and players at your new destination, is a lot to ask for with such little time on your hands,” Hackett said.
For now, no Utah football player has publicly announced his desire to transfer. That can always change, however, it seems as though Utah will return every player if and when a Spring season happens.
It’s Utah’s World Podcast
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Tom Hackett is a Utah and Real Salt Lake Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the It’s Utah’s World Podcast (Utah Football themed) and The Lion’s Den Podcast (Real Salt Lake themed). Follow him on Twitter: @TomCantHackett.
