NCAA approves suspensions for coaches and fines for schools that take ‘ghost transfers’ - AP News

The NCAA has approved penalties including coach suspensions and school fines targeting "ghost transfers"—a practice where athletes enter the transfer portal but never actually leave their original school, allowing programs to circumvent recruiting rules. This enforcement action addresses a loophole that has grown increasingly common in college sports as the transfer portal has expanded player mobility while recruiting rules remain restrictive. The penalties are designed to deter schools from using ghost transfers as a way to manipulate roster limits and competitive balance without genuine player movement. The NCAA has faced mounting pressure to address portal abuse as programs exploit gray areas in the transfer rules to gain competitive advantages. This marks a significant shift in NCAA enforcement toward policing the transfer market itself rather than just traditional recruiting violations.