As of Oct. 15, 2018, a change in the NCAA transfer rules allows student-athletes to enter their name into a "transfer portal," allowing other schools to initiate contact.
This allows players to publicly seek a new school without being blocked by their coaches or administrators. However, such a move doesn't come without risks. Players who have not graduated still have to sit out a year to become eligible after transferring, unless they are apmproved for a hardship waiver.
And schools are now allowed to cancel or reduce financial aid at the end of the semester once the notification of transfer is signed, and they are under no obligation to keep the player on the roster. They can effectively revoke the player's scholarship for officially shopping around.
So, just like in science fiction movies, once you enter the portal, there is a chance you won't return. Here are the players who have publicly announced they are taking the leap this year, along with schools they are leaving and the schools they've chosen.
Quarterback
Kelly Bryant, Clemson to Missouri
Shane Buechele, Texas to SMU
Alex Delton, Kansas State, originally transferring to UTEP, later announced change to TCU
Justin Fields, Georgia to Ohio State
Ben Hicks, SMU to Arkansas
Alex Hornibrook, Wisconsin to Florida State
Jalen Hurts, Alabama to Oklahoma
Josh Jackson, Virginia Tech to Maryland
De'Andre Johnson, FAU to Texas Southern
Austin Kendall, Oklahoma to West Virginia
Cole Kelley, Arkansas to Southeastern Louisiana
Johnny Langan, Boston College to Rutgers
Tate Martell, Ohio State to Miami
Devon Modster, UCLA to Cal
Riley Neal, Ball State to Vanderbilt
Cameron Rising, Texas to Utah
Shawn Robinson, TCU to Missouri
Nick Starkel, Texas A&M to Arkansas
Ty Storey, Arkansas to Western Kentucky
Jordan Travis, Louisville to Florida State
Jack Tuttle, Utah to Indiana
Brandon Wimbush, Notre Dame to UCF
Undecided
Ross Bowers, Cal
Johnny Pabst, Indiana
Running back
Riley Burt, BYU to Utah State
James Gilbert, Ball State to Kansas State
Craig Nelson, Indiana to Southern
Trey Sneed, Rutgers to Fordham
Undecided
Greg Bell, Nebraska
Mitch McNutt, Illinois
Ikechukwu Ogwuegbu, Maryland
Amir Rasul, Florida State
Wide receiver
Charlie Fessler, Northwestern to Richmond
Benaiah Franklin, Purdue to Northwestern State
Eric Kumah, Virginia Tech
Jonathan Nance, Arkansas to Missouri
A.D. Miller, Oklahoma to Illinois, then back to Oklahoma
K.J. Osborn, Buffalo to Miami
Sean Savoy, Virginia Tech to Maryland
Jeff Thomas, Announced plans to transfer to Illinois but later decided to stay at Miami
Latrell Williams, Tennessee
Undecided
Irvin Charles, Penn State
Carmoni Green, Illinois
Justin McGriff, Nebraska
Keith Mixon, Mississippi State
La'Michael Pettway, Arkansas
Tight end
Tyler Davis, UConn to Georgia Tech
Austin Dorris, Indiana to Bowling Green
Lou Dorsey, Illinois to Iowa Western CC
Luke Ford, Georgia to Illinois
Jalen Harris, Auburn to Colorado
Branden Hohenstein, Nebraska to Abilene Christian
Eli Wolf, Tennessee to Georgia
Offensive line
Nathan Eldridge, Arizona to Oregon State
Tommy Kennedy, Butler to Miami
Ben Knutson, Virginia to Tulane
Bill Kuduk, Kansas State to Kent State
Richie Petitbon, Alabama to Illinois
R.J. Proctor, Virginia to Oklahoma
Undecided
Zeke Martin, Illinois
Drew Richmond, Tennessee
Reuben Unije, Illinois
Defensive line
Darrion Daniels, Oklahoma State to Nebraska
Miles Fox, Old Dominion to Wake Forest
Cameron Goode, Virginia Tech to UCF
Jonathan Greenard, Louisville to Florida
Trevon Hill, Virginia Tech to Miami
Aubrey Solomon, Michigan to Tennessee
Undecided
Zach Abercrumbia, Rice
Malik Barrow, Ohio State
Linebacker
Dae'Lun Darien, Penn State to Delaware
Rico Kearney, Virginia Tech to UCF
Jaelan Phillips, UCLA to Miami
Drew Singleton, Michigan to Rutgers
Zaquandre White, Florida State to Iowa Western CC
Undecided
Oluwole Betiku Jr., USC
Aaron Mends, Iowa
Austin Smith, Tennessee
Guy Thomas, Nebraska
Defensive back
Bubba Bolden, USC to Miami (via junior college)
Jonathan Greenard, Duke to UCF
Isaiah Humphries, Penn State to Cal
Qwuantrezz Knight, Maryland to Kent State
Cameron Watkins, Illinois to Vanderbilt
Undecided
Jarius Adams, Rutgers
Trey Creamer, Iowa
Zaire Jones, Vanderbilt
Jack Leius, Minnesota
Marcus Lewis, Maryland
Bennett Williams, Illinois
