USC football hired Lincoln Riley to be the head coach of the Trojans before the 2022 season, and he has done a great job since taking over. USC immediately became a contender under Riley and was one win away from making the College Football Playoff last year, but a loss against Utah football in the Pac-12 championship game derailed those hopes. Still, it was a great season, and the Trojans are right back at the top of college football again this year. A big reason for the success so far is because of quarterback Caleb Williams, who came to USC via the transfer portal. Riley has been given some good gifts from the portal, but he also sees the negative aspects of it.

“Right now, there's no data, so everybody's just going off in all these different directions on what they think is right,” Lincoln Riley said on In Depth with Graham Bensinger. “When we start to see what is the real success rate of these transfers – are these transfers graduating? I feel like that'll level off.”

When things aren't going right for a student-athlete these days, it's easy for them to put their name in the portal and try their luck at different school. Riley thinks that down the road, this might become less common.

Article Continues Below
More NCAA Football News
Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore on the sideline in the first half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan Stadium.
Michigan football an early team to watch for elite 2027 QBScotty White ·
Texas Longhorns edge rushers Colin Simmons (11) and Ethan Burke (91) celebrate a sack during the College Football Playoff semifinal game against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on Friday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.
5-star pass rusher commits to Texas after backing off Oregon pledgeLorenzo J Reyna ·
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) is pressured by Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Simeon Barrow Jr. (10) in the fourth quarter during the Pop Tarts bowl at Camping World Stadium.
Miami beats out Florida, Penn State for 4-star pass rusherLorenzo J Reyna ·
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen Deboer looks on against the Michigan Wolverines in the third quarter during the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium
Alabama football lands coveted D-Lineman over Tennessee, MichiganBenjamin Adducchio ·
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day (left) greets Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore before the game at Ohio Stadium.
Michigan football lands 2026 RB out of Ohio State’s backyardScotty White ·
Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer visits the field during Senior Bowl practice for the American team at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
Alabama football’s Kalen DeBoer joins team in support for Keelon RussellBenjamin Adducchio ·

“I think right now, it's just the cool, easy idea to do,” Riley continued. “But you also see the thousands of guys in the portal right now that don't have a home, that left a home and a scholarship that they had. You see a lot of guys that are going places and not graduating.”

Riley brings up a valid point. Right now, only the good stories of the portal get told, but the players left behind are stuck in a very difficult situation. The current landscape of college sports is changing dramatically, and it'll be interesting to see how it continues to evolve.