Baseball transfers

Yes, Tennessee transfers could play with their new team in 2026, although they have to finish their semester as far as academics go. As a practical matter, most major programs, including LSU, have full rosters and wouldn't have room for them, although there would be an exception or two made by some teams for a really elite player.

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It's a dumb question because mid year transfers have never been eligible in the portal era and that won't change because of the high profile nature of a coach.

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Graduate transfers would be eligible to play immediately. They would have to finish out the current academic semester at TN then they would be eligible in the spring at a new school.

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Graduate transfers would be eligible to play immediately.

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That's not what's in question here. It also happens extremely rarely. Gio DiGiacomo to Duke is probably the most notable example. Which says a lot about that particular player market.

They can transfer for the spring to a new team but would be ineligible and have to sit for the ‘26 season, Kendall Rodgers tweeted this the other day I’m pretty sure.

Yes — in most cases college baseball players in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) can transfer if, for example, their head coach leaves (such as the scenario you described with Tony Vitello at Tennessee Volunteers baseball). However, whether they will be immediately eligible to play at the new school and how their eligibility “clock” is affected depends on several factors. Here’s a breakdown:

? Transfer is allowed

A student-athlete can enter the NCAA Transfer Portal and transfer from one Division I school to another.
fs.ncaa.org.s3.amazonaws.com
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SportsRecruits Blog
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The rules have become more permissive over time, allowing more immediate eligibility in many circumstances.
Stack Athlete
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The specific change you mentioned — a coaching change — is noted in NCAA rules as one of the exceptions or circumstances that can affect transfer timing.
fs.ncaa.org.s3.amazonaws.com
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?? Will they be immediately eligible?

In many cases, yes — but it depends on the details. Key conditions:

The athlete must be academically eligible at their prior institution (i.e., in good standing, not suspended, meeting progress-toward-degree requirements) to be immediately eligible at the new school.
fs.ncaa.org.s3.amazonaws.com
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For undergraduates transferring, they must enter the Transfer Portal during the sport’s transfer window (or a special window if there is a coaching change or other special circumstance) to be immediately eligible.
fs.ncaa.org.s3.amazonaws.com
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As one summary put it: “Players now … can be eligible to play right away for their new team” provided they follow the rules.
Keep Playing Baseball

In short: If the player transfers under approved conditions and meets the academic and timing requirements, they should be eligible for that same upcoming baseball year.

?? Eligibility “clock” considerations

NCAA Division I student-athletes generally have five calendar years to play up to four seasons of competition, starting when they first enrol full-time.
NCSA College Recruiting

Transferring does not necessarily reset that clock. The years already used/elapsed continue to count.

Since the 2021 change, baseball players (and other sports) can use a one-time immediate transfer (without sitting out) in many cases.
SportsRecruits Blog
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A coaching change exception: If the head coach leaves, the athlete may have a special window to enter the portal and potentially gain immediate eligibility.
fs.ncaa.org.s3.amazonaws.com
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?? So in your scenario (coach leaves at Tennessee)

Yes — if a Tennessee baseball player chooses to transfer because their coach leaves:

They can enter the Transfer Portal.

They may qualify for the “coaching-change” exception window, which helps with timing.

They should be eligible to play immediately at the new institution this upcoming season, if they satisfy the academic standing and procedural requirements.

They will still be subject to the NCAA’s eligibility clock (how many seasons/years they have left) — transfer doesn’t automatically give “extra” seasons beyond what the rules allow.

Thanks Tigah

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It's a dumb question because mid year transfers have never been eligible in the portal era and that won't change because of the high profile nature of a coach.

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When is the last time a coach, "high profile" or not, left his team this late in the off-season for another job? I can't think of one. So the guy had a question about if they get a special window to transfer.

You could accept that some people have lives outside of watching twitter all day and following all things sports related, and just took the time to answer the question. Instead, in your typical fashion, you give the most arrogant, unnecessary and nasty response that you can.

I don't know why you haven't been banned yet, for your behavior.

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When is the last time a coach, "high profile" or not, left his team this late in the off-season

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Like two weeks ago with St Louis University. Last year with UNO. It happens every year.

That’s the point about the high profile nature you’re trying to disregard.

Oh look a name calling loser
F you dude
I would never belittle a poster the way you do

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I remember that Dean left UNO, but had completely forgotten WHEN he left them, because UNO doesn't exactly stick in the forefront of my mind.

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You realize that's what I'm referring to by high profile nature right? Holy shite.

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And so, for that, you think people are only asking the question because of a high profile situation? No, they're asking because it's not something you see often, and they want to know the rules. And what are the rules, Project? Any time a coach leaves, players get a 15 day window, beginning 5 days after the new coach is announced, to transfer and be immediately eligible at a new school.
Now, obviously, a lot of rosters are filled at this point, so it would need to be some really top tier talent entering the portal, for teams to be willing to cut players from their roster to make room for a transfer. But the question was, would they be immediately eligible? And the answer is yes, so long as they transfer within the allowed window, and meet academic standards, and so forth.
You called it a stupid question, and yet you are obviously unaware of the rule changes that now allow this. I would have thought, for as arrogant and elitist as you are toward others, that you would have done your research. But you didn't.

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The rules haven't changed to allow winter break transfers to be eligible at the new institution. Regardless of what the chatGPT summary in this thread says.