Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — All in or in the way, the catchy phrase for Utah football, has needed a slight alteration to stay current with the times.
The transfer portal, otherwise known as the free agent frenzy that dominates the sport this time of year, has demanded it. In unusual cases, maybe modify the motto to all in or straddle the line.
For decades, coaches across the country often swap jobs shortly after the last regular-season finale and before bowl games. Recent rule changes that allow transfers immediate eligibility has prompted thousands of players to follow suit, often creating a free-for-all that has led to a host of complaints from coaches across all levels of college football.
The gist centers around teams trying to poach players off other rosters, usually through inciting NIL deals. Quarterback Cam Rising, for example, bypassed an enormous amount of money from other programs before deciding to return at Utah for a hefty price in his seventh year of eligibility next season.
NCAA rules prohibit teams from contacting players before the transfer portal opened last week. But in many cases, go-betweens can arrange NIL deals before programs make initial contact with prospective transfers.
"The problem is tampering," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said during a press conference previewing his team's matchup against Kentucky in the Gator Bowl. "And we could fix it easily if they'd let football people fix it, but they usually don't listen to us."
Until, and if, that time comes, expect the game to resemble "the wild, wild west," as more than one coach has labeled the transfer portal. Accounting for players opting out to begin preparations for the NFL draft, rosters for bowl games often look drastically different from the regular season.
In the overwhelming number of cases, impending transfers leave the program and don't play in bowl games. Utah quarterback Bryson Barnes, who already has entered the transfer portal, is the exception and intends to play in Las Vegas Bowl against Northwestern on Dec. 23.
"He wants to finish the season, and he'll be our guy in the bowl game," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said during media availability last week.
The move is in stark contrast to Whittingham's prior philosophy on players entering the portal. Falling in line with most coaches, he wanted to move on once a player indicated the desire to leave.
Bryson Barnes is Utah's starter in Las Vegas Bowl — even while being in transfer portal
Unlike many of his teammates, who will not be available during the team's Las Vegas Bowl appearance on Dec. 23, the former walk-on will lead the team when it takes on Northwestern.Receiver Jaylen Dixon, running back Micah Bernard and now Barnes are recent examples of Utah players returning after entering the portal. Barnes, the former walk-on who has another two years of eligibility, is one of three scholarship quarterbacks — along with Nate Johnson and Mack Howard — leaving the program.
"He wants to have a chance to be a starting quarterback," Whittingham said, "and with Cam coming back, barring injury, that would not happen here. And so, we wish him all the best. He gave a ton to this program, got his degree. He's a guy that we wish nothing but the best for and have a lot of gratitude for what he gave to the program and we're grateful that's playing one last game with us."
True to his gritty personality, Barnes didn't anticipate exploring options to interfere with bowl preparations. His well-documented underdog story, highlighted by being a pig farmer from tiny Milford, Utah, will buy him the benefit of the doubt in being able to straddle metaphorically having one foot out the door.
The Utes already will be without starting safeties Cole Bishop and Sione Vaki, receiver Devaughn Vele and offensive lineman Keaton Bills, all of whom announced plans to begin preparations for the NFL. Cornerback JaTravis Broughton, among others, have entered the portal.
"Our team will have a different look from what you saw in the last game," Whittingham said. "We'll be missing guys."
