NCAA approves penalties for schools that take 'ghost transfers'
AP News • • sports
Key Points:
- The NCAA Division I Cabinet approved emergency legislation imposing severe penalties on coaches and schools that sign or allow athletes to participate without using the official transfer portal process.
- Penalties include a suspension of the head coach for 50% of a season and a fine equal to 20% of the sport’s budget, effective immediately for transfers on or after February 25, 2026.
- The rule change, initially proposed by the Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee, now applies to all Division I sports to address issues related to "ghost transfers."
- The NCAA has been monitoring unauthorized transfers since incidents involving athletes like Xavier Lucas and Jake Retzlaff, highlighting concerns about roster management and transfer window integrity.
- An Infractions Process Task Force is reviewing enforcement and penalties related to transfer rules and tampering violations, with recommendations expected later this year.
