Why 14 exiting transfers is nothing to panic about for Alabama football | Goodbread.

The scoreboard reads 14-1, but this isn’t about a football game with a two-touchdown lead. Instead, it’s Alabama football’s performance in the NCAA’s winter transfer portal since it opened a week ago.

As of now, Alabama has seen 14 players depart via the transfer portal, scattering to programs across the nation, including Colorado, Ole Miss, and Vanderbilt. Meanwhile, only one player has been added to the Crimson Tide roster—David Bird, a long snapper from Cal. With the portal remaining open until December 28, Alabama has time to address this apparent deficit, but the situation isn’t as dire as it may seem.

If Coach Kalen DeBoer and his staff were facing a two-score deficit late in a football game, the instinct might be to abandon conventional strategies, opting instead for aggressive play calls like deep passes or fourth-down gambles. However, the dynamics of the transfer portal differ significantly from game-day strategy. While the numbers might suggest a growing roster gap, there’s little reason to panic.

Since its establishment in 2018, the transfer portal has largely served as an avenue for second- and third-string players seeking opportunities elsewhere. Alabama has historically lost players from this talent tier to the portal, which also reflects the caliber of athletes it typically attracts in return.

Of course, there are notable exceptions.

Among the 14 players Alabama has lost this season, most were backups, but a few were primed for more significant roles in 2025. Notable departures include returning starter DeVonta Smith, wide receiver Kendrick Law, and running back Justice Haynes. Over the years, however, Alabama has also leveraged the portal to bring in standout talent. Examples include Jameson Williams and Jahmyr Gibbs, who made an immediate and substantial impact during their time in Tuscaloosa.

These success stories highlight why former head coach Nick Saban adopted a selective approach to the portal. His strategy focused on acquiring players who could step in as starters rather than replacing outgoing backups with comparable talent from other programs. For Alabama to maintain its standards, DeBoer would do well to uphold a similar philosophy.

It’s worth noting that the transfer portal has always led to a net loss of players for Alabama in terms of numbers. Last season, Saban saw 18 players leave the program through the portal, and this year’s trend suggests the same outcome. While this attrition inevitably impacts roster depth, it’s part of the evolving landscape of college football. The days of stockpiling elite talent across the board, as Saban did in the pre-portal era, are gone.

This shift isn’t inherently negative. The transfer portal offers players a chance to find better opportunities while simultaneously allowing programs to move on from individuals who might not align with team culture or contribute positively to the locker room. In some cases, losing players can actually strengthen a team through addition by subtraction.

The broader college football landscape underscores Alabama’s current situation. Consider this: Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida have collectively lost 27 players to the portal and have brought in just one in return. Similarly, Oklahoma has seen 22 departures without any incoming transfers. For powerhouse programs, this trend is far from unusual.

Top-tier programs like Alabama don’t operate by sheer numbers in the portal. Instead, they focus on quality over quantity. The objective isn’t to replace every player who leaves but to strategically recruit individuals who can make a meaningful impact.

It’s also important to remember that the portal’s current activity is far from its final wave. Players from teams competing in the College Football Playoff have an extended window to enter the portal—up to five days after their final game. With a national championship in sight, these athletes are unlikely to make any moves until their postseason campaigns conclude. As such, Alabama and other top programs are playing the long game, waiting for high-value talent to become available.

Evaluating success in the transfer portal, therefore, goes beyond tracking the number of players lost or gained. What truly matters is the caliber of the incoming recruits and their ability to address specific needs within the roster. While Alabama’s current tally might appear concerning at first glance, it’s in line with the approach of other elite programs.

The portal era has undeniably changed college football, particularly for teams like Alabama. Depth, once a cornerstone of the Crimson Tide’s dominance, is harder to maintain in an environment where players seek immediate playing time. However, this new reality doesn’t preclude Alabama—or any other top program—from remaining competitive at the highest level. It simply requires a different approach.

As the portal remains open, Alabama will continue to assess its options, likely targeting only a handful of players who can make a significant impact. The process might lack the flashiness of a high-volume recruiting spree, but that’s not what wins championships. For Alabama, the focus remains clear: quality over quantity, patience over panic.

In this new era of college football, programs must adapt to thrive, and Alabama’s measured approach to the transfer portal reflects that understanding. While the scoreboard may read 14-1 today, the true victory lies in the talent they ultimately secure and how those players contribute to the team’s long-term success.