Is the Transfer Portal Destroying College Bowl Games?

FAN SIDED - The transfer portal has undoubtedly revolutionized college football, giving athletes the opportunity to seek better situations for their futures. After all coaches leave all the time, why shouldn’t players? Whether it’s more playing time, a higher-profile program, or NIL opportunities, players now have the freedom to control their destinies in ways previously impossible. While this is a clear win for individual athletes, the unintended consequence has been the slow collapse of bowl games, turning what once was a celebrated postseason into chaos of opt-outs and cancellations. Marshall University serves as the latest cautionary tale. The Thundering Herd had so many players leave through the transfer portal that they were forced to withdraw from the Independence Bowl. Instead of suiting up for one last game together, graduating seniors and their teammates will now spend that time at home, robbed of a final send-off. Even more damaging to players who won’t go to the NFL or other pro leagues, that was going to be their last time suiting up at all. This is more than just a logistical issue—it highlights how bowl games are becoming collateral damage in the modern transfer era. Some of the issue with Marshall had their head coach leave for Southern Miss, by his own admission, a mutual decision. Even so, losing that many players is a stark reminder of how fast a program can drop.