Transfer Portal Numbers Don't Tell Whole Story for Fighting Irish

A look at the latest numbers coming out of the University of Notre Dame’s athletic department suggests that the team is on pace to lose money in the transfer portal this season. According to a report released last week, the school has generated $3 million in revenue from transfers since January 1st. The transfer portal itself is not typically profitable for schools like Notre Dame, which do not receive any additional compensation from the NCAA beyond what it already pays its athletes. However, the revenue that schools can generate through the transfer of player talent and scholarships can be substantial. It’s worth noting that not all transfers are created equal when it comes to generating revenue. Players who go on to play in the NFL tend to be more profitable for their new schools than those who do not make it to the pros. In order to maximize their potential earnings, teams may prioritize recruiting players with higher projected NFL draft picks. Notre Dame has historically been a bit of an outlier when it comes to its approach to the transfer portal. Rather than trying to generate revenue through transfers, the team has taken a more focused approach on building strong relationships with high school talent. This strategy appears to be paying off, as several top-ranked recruits have committed to playing for the Fighting Irish. As the season draws to a close and the transfer portal continues to churn out new players, it will be interesting to see how Notre Dame’s strategy pays off in terms of revenue generation and overall team performance.