Many college football fans consider the transfer portal to be out of control these days, and an even greater number think NIL is leading the sport closer to the pro ranks with each passing day. While both of these things may be true, it does mean that we are seeing more parity across college football. I can’t remember the last time there wasn’t a clear “team to beat” over halfway through the season, and with the 12-team playoff less than 2 months away it’s gonna be a wild ride up until then.

In my eyes, Tennessee fans should be ecstatic with NIL and the transfer portal. When Josh Heupel arrived at Tennessee in January of 2021 Tennessee’s roster was gutted. However, Tennessee was among a handful of schools to embrace NIL from day one. This led to Tennessee having one of the top NIL collectives in the country and an impressive rise from the ashes that is pretty remarkable when you step back and take it all in. Josh Heupel was no doubt the right man for the job, but without NIL and the success his program has had with impact transfers, I don’t think the rise of the program would have happened as quickly.

Just take a look at the impact plays in the win against Alabama.

• Dont’e Thornton making the fingertip catch to set up Tennessee’s first score

• Chris Brazzell hauling in the game-winning touchdown catch

• Jermod Mccoy locking down Ryan Williams and picking off Milroe in the endzone

3 of the biggest plays of the game were made by impact transfers. The lifeblood of any college football program will always be high school recruiting, but the transfer portal, when used correctly, can make a massive difference in the resurgence of a program. Teams like Florida State and Ole Miss who use the transfer portal as a crutch are not the standard. Josh Heupel has reached 6 wins before November for the third straight year. A feat Phillip Fulmer couldn't accomplish even during the height of his success. Josh Heupel is not perfect, but it can’t be argued that his program is a prime example of how to use the transfer portal in today’s landscape of college football.