Kirby Smart Says the Biggest Problem in College Football Today Is Tampering and Lack of Regulation in the Transfer Portal Era

Kirby Smart, head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs and one of the most respected voices in college football, has never been shy about sharing his opinions on the evolving landscape of the sport. Whether it’s roster management, recruiting, or player development, Smart’s insights carry weight. But recently, his comments have sparked a larger conversation about what he sees as the biggest issue currently plaguing college football: the lack of regulation and rampant tampering associated with the transfer portal.

Smart, who has guided Georgia to multiple College Football Playoff appearances and national championships, has seen firsthand how the transfer portal has reshaped the way programs build and maintain rosters. While he acknowledges that the portal has offered valuable opportunities to players, particularly those who may be buried on depth charts or in search of a better fit, he’s increasingly concerned about how it’s being manipulated—both by programs and by individuals with a vested interest in the movement of players.

“There’s no transparency, and there’s no real enforcement,” Smart said during a recent press conference. “Kids are getting contacted before they ever hit the portal. It’s not right, and everyone knows it’s happening. But nobody seems willing to stop it.”

Tampering, in the context of college football, refers to the illegal contact between coaches—or those acting on their behalf—and players who have not officially entered the transfer portal. NCAA rules prohibit such contact, but enforcement has proven difficult, especially with the rise of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) collectives and third-party representatives who operate in the gray areas of compliance. Smart said this behavior is not only unethical but also undermines the stability and integrity of college football.

“You can recruit a kid for three years, develop him, invest everything you’ve got, and then somebody else just swoops in behind closed doors, makes a call, and suddenly he’s gone,” Smart said. “That’s not how this sport is supposed to work.”

The transfer portal, introduced in 2018, was initially seen as a progressive reform that empowered student-athletes to take greater control of their careers. It removed the requirement for players to sit out a season after transferring (with a few exceptions) and allowed for a more fluid system of movement. But as the portal has become increasingly popular—over 2,000 FBS players entered during the most recent cycle—coaches like Smart have begun to see its unintended consequences.

“You can’t build a program like we used to,” Smart explained. “You used to be able to take a freshman, redshirt him, develop him slowly, get him physically and mentally prepared to contribute. Now? If he’s not starting in year one, he’s already halfway out the door. And you better believe someone’s already put the thought in his head.”

According to Smart, the heart of the problem lies in the lack of centralized oversight and real penalties for those who violate the rules. The NCAA has been criticized for being slow to adapt to the shifting realities of college athletics, and Smart believes a more robust, enforceable set of regulations is needed—one that punishes tampering and rewards schools for doing things the right way.

“We need accountability,” he said. “Right now, there are schools and collectives blatantly breaking the rules, and they’re not facing any consequences. Meanwhile, the programs that try to follow the letter of the law are at a disadvantage. That’s not sustainable. That’s not a level playing field.”

Smart also emphasized how the current transfer culture is affecting the mental health and long-term development of players. He recounted several instances in which young athletes were promised immediate playing time or lucrative NIL deals by recruiters operating outside the bounds of the rules—only for those promises to fall flat after the player transferred.

“We’re seeing more and more kids transfer, not because it’s the right move, but because they’ve been misled or pressured,” Smart said. “They think the grass is always greener, and sometimes it is—but more often, it’s not. And when they realize that, they’ve already burned a bridge with their former team.”

Despite his criticisms, Smart was quick to clarify that he supports the concept of the transfer portal in principle. He believes that players should have the right to seek new opportunities, especially when circumstances like coaching changes or personal challenges make it difficult to stay in one place. But he insists that there must be guardrails in place to ensure fairness and competitive balance.

“We’re not trying to stop kids from transferring. That’s not what this is about,” he said. “It’s about doing it the right way. We owe it to the kids, to the programs, and to the sport to fix this before it gets even more out of hand.”

One of Smart’s proposed solutions involves increased regulation and transparency around NIL collectives, many of which operate as third-party entities with minimal oversight. He believes that these groups, while well-intentioned in some cases, are increasingly being used as tools for illegal recruiting and tampering.

“Let’s not kid ourselves. NIL is great when it’s being used to reward players who’ve earned it. But too often, it’s being used as a lure—offered up as a signing bonus by people who have no official role with the school. That has to change.”

Smart also called on the NCAA to invest more resources into compliance and enforcement, pointing out that without real investigative power and penalties, the rules become meaningless.

“You can write all the rules you want. But if nobody’s watching and nobody’s getting punished, then it’s just a free-for-all. And that’s what we’re seeing now.”

The broader implications of Smart’s concerns are hard to ignore. As the sport continues to evolve at a breakneck pace—driven by media deals, NIL rights, and the expanded playoff—many fear that the essence of college football is being lost. Loyalty, development, and team-building are giving way to a more transactional model, one that mirrors professional free agency.

“The portal’s not going anywhere. NIL’s not going anywhere. And that’s fine. But we have to adapt the right way,” Smart said. “We need leadership. We need clarity. And we need the courage to enforce rules that protect the integrity of the game.”

Smart’s comments have already drawn reactions from coaches and analysts across the country. Some have echoed his concerns, while others believe that player mobility is simply the new reality and that coaches must adapt or be left behind. But regardless of where one falls on the issue, it’s clear that Smart’s words have struck a nerve.

For Georgia and other top programs, the stakes are especially high. Building a perennial contender in the transfer portal era requires not just recruiting talent, but re-recruiting your own players every offseason. Coaches must constantly monitor locker room dynamics, anticipate roster turnover, and navigate an increasingly complex NIL landscape.

“It’s exhausting, honestly,” Smart admitted. “You’re not just coaching anymore. You’re managing egos, fielding calls from parents and agents, worrying about which collectives are doing what—it’s a lot. And it’s not what we signed up for. But it’s the world we’re in now.”

Still, Smart remains hopeful that meaningful reform is possible. He pointed to the unity among coaches on this issue as a sign that change could be coming.

“I don’t know a single coach who thinks this is working the way it should. That’s a start. We just need to get on the same page and push for a better system.”

Kirby Smart’s warning may not lead to immediate change, but it has brought renewed focus to a problem that many inside the sport agree is growing. If college football is to preserve the values that have made it beloved for generations—commitment, growth, and the team-first mentality—then the issues raised by one of its brightest minds must be addressed with urgency and sincerity. Otherwise, the sport risks becoming unrecognizable, and the cost could be far greater than a few lost recruits.