NCAA approves suspensions for coaches and fines for schools that take ‘ghost transfers’

INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA Division I Cabinet enacted emergency legislation Wednesday that will impose steep penalties on coaches and programs that roster or play athletes who have not completed the mandated transfer-portal process.

Effective immediately and covering all transfers on or after Feb. 25, 2026, the rule carries two primary sanctions: a head-coach suspension for 50 percent of the season and a financial penalty equal to 20 percent of the sport’s annual budget. The measure, first advanced by the Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee, applies across all Division I sports.

“I am grateful the DI Cabinet approved the FBS Oversight Committee’s recommendation to impose significant penalties on head coaches and programs who circumvent transfer rules, along with immediate accountability,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said. “This is a necessary step to address a critical roster management issue facing our sport and to protect the integrity of football’s transfer window.”

The action targets so-called ghost transfers, a loophole highlighted in January 2025 when former Wisconsin defensive back Xavier Lucas moved to Miami without entering the portal. A similar situation occurred in July when quarterback Jake Retzlaff left BYU and walked on at Tulane.

In a parallel effort, the Division I Board of Directors has tasked an Infractions Process Task Force with reviewing NCAA enforcement procedures. The group will examine transfer-rule violations and tampering penalties, with recommendations for modernizing the infractions process expected later this year.