Presume that Ponds and Cooper declaring for the NFL freed up some significant cash for next seasons team.
IU going to be able to reinvest and what's the lean for where that happens?
Cignetti and staff still diving deep in portal player tape?
I think the portal is done. We’re now in our third week of classes I think?
From Google AI.
As of mid-January 2026, over 10,000 college football players entered the transfer portal across all divisions, with around 3,300-3,900 from FBS alone, though many have since committed, leaving over 1,200 FBS scholarship players still in the portal by late January. The numbers are fluid as players find new schools or withdraw, but thousands remain unsigned even after the main January window closed, with around 1,200+ FBS scholarship players still active in the portal as of late January 2026
From Google AI.
As of mid-January 2026, over 10,000 college football players entered the transfer portal across all divisions, with around 3,300-3,900 from FBS alone, though many have since committed, leaving over 1,200 FBS scholarship players still in the portal by late January. The numbers are fluid as players find new schools or withdraw, but thousands remain unsigned even after the main January window closed, with around 1,200+ FBS scholarship players still active in the portal as of late January 2026
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Right, but probably not people we’re bringing aboard. Maybe another 1-2 depth
I don’t really know but I would assume that someone that is in the portal could be picked up later this summer? Probably no one IU wants but it is concerning seeing that there are 1200 kids stuck in limbo out there.
From Google AI.
As of mid-January 2026, over 10,000 college football players entered the transfer portal across all divisions, with around 3,300-3,900 from FBS alone, though many have since committed, leaving over 1,200 FBS scholarship players still in the portal by late January. The numbers are fluid as players find new schools or withdraw, but thousands remain unsigned even after the main January window closed, with around 1,200+ FBS scholarship players still active in the portal as of late January 2026
.
@walt542 I think people forget that the academic calendar is in play here as well. You have to be enrolled to be on the roster.
@middawg IU is probably done until after spring football with portal signees. If they haven’t already spent the money saved on Alberto, Cooper and Ponds on portal targets they likely will spend it elsewhere where.
@middawg IU is probably done until after spring football with portal signees. If they haven’t already spent the money saved on Alberto, Cooper and Ponds on portal targets they likely will spend it elsewhere where.
I have to imagine the fact that we are getting higher level hs recruits, also comes with an uptick in costs there, as well.
I don’t really know but I would assume that someone that is in the portal could be picked up later this summer? Probably no one IU wants but it is concerning seeing that there are 1200 kids stuck in limbo out there.
I couldn't agree more. This isn't a good thing for kids. I wish they'd adjust the calendar, limit transfers to one freebie, and require you to sit out after the next one. I know the washout rate in college is high (around a third), but this doesn't help kids who are already at risk. Those 1200 kids are going to make more money with a degree than they will make playing football.
Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for. - Seamus Heaney, Irish poet and likely Hoosier basketball fan.
POTFB
How many of these kids stuck in the portal would have been quietly removed from their current team anyway? The portal could have just been their last hurrah trying to get a scholarship or walk-on spot before having to give up the sport.
Number is also higher than it used to be because of the reduction in team size and the players that are getting bonus years.
@hurryinghoosiers exactly. Smaller rosters, and the lingering effects of 6-8 year players meaning rosters are older (more 3-4 year guys who haven’t had a chance to play much). Not as many opportunities anymore
Texas and OSU are trying to get older teams now, I wouldnt be surprised if top teams take smaller and smaller HS classes from here on out. Why spend the time recruiting and the money to pay for guys who will likely transfer out before ever playing meaningful snaps?
Well we could give the leftover money to the basketball team. They for sure need it.
Well, we had an average team age of 28 I think I heard. Maybe it was 30. Texas has a way to go to catch up. (Somehow we had that amazing maturity according to dumbass media throwing out 23,24, and even 25 lol, even though teams such as Miami appeared a bit older than us if going by freshman class dates. I think someone here said about 22 even for us, a bit older for them.)
I don’t really know but I would assume that someone that is in the portal could be picked up later this summer? Probably no one IU wants but it is concerning seeing that there are 1200 kids stuck in limbo out there.
I couldn't agree more. This isn't a good thing for kids. I wish they'd adjust the calendar, limit transfers to one freebie, and require you to sit out after the next one. I know the washout rate in college is high (around a third), but this doesn't help kids who are already at risk. Those 1200 kids are going to make more money with a degree than they will make playing football.
probably
depends on the degree......
