Head coaches in the Atlantic Coast Conference, such as Syracuse football's Fran Brown and Clemson's Dabo Swinney, have voiced their displeasure with the ongoing issue of programs tampering with players in today's transfer portal era.
The NCAA wants to crack down on this problem. Earlier this week, according to a report from Yahoo Sports, NCAA vice president of enforcement Jon Duncan said in a memo sent to member schools that the Division I board of directors has told NCAA staff personnel to "pursue significant penalties" against those who tamper "along with publicly identifying those found guilty of wrongdoing."
In a memo sent today to NCAA schools, VP of Enforcement Jon Duncan announces that the DI Board of Directors has charged the staff to “pursue significant penalties” for tampering violations, while also more publicly announcing cases, and reminded schools about the tampering bylaw. pic.twitter.com/UwLWVBQEkq
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) February 23, 2026
Yes, please. Tampering, as far as I can tell, is an issue that's only getting worse and worse, and it's absurd that violators are held more accountable. I've said on many occasions that I believe the NCAA is an incompetent organization, but hopefully, it will get this right.
Tampering has to get grounded, especially as the number of college football players entering the portal year after year has significantly grown. Plus, the landscape has evolved, given that last summer's multi-billion-dollar House settlement allows schools to now pay their athletes directly in the form of revenue-sharing.
By the way, last October, NCAA leaders approved the elimination of two transfer portal windows - one each in the winter and in the spring - in favor of just one window, from January 2 to January 16.
The NCAA may issue penalties for teams that try to circumvent the transfer portal process.
Also this week, the NCAA Division I FBS Oversight Committee recommended that the Division I Cabinet approve emergency legislation that could ultimately penalize teams that add players to their rosters when those athletes were not in the transfer portal during the 15-day January window.
Per a release from the NCAA, if this legislation is approved, should an athlete who was not in the portal during the January window end up participating in any athletics-related activity at the next school, the penalties would include:
•The team's head coach would be prohibited from all football and administrative duties for six games.
•The school would receive a fine equal to 20 percent of its football budget.
•The team would have to reduce its number of roster spots by five for the next season, regardless of whether the head coach is still employed by that school.
This proposed legislation would become effective immediately if it's approved at April's Division I Cabinet meeting.