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Stan Becton | krikya18.com | April 8, 2022

These FCS teams have been most active in the transfer portal this offseason

North Dakota State dominates Montana State, secures 9th FCS title

Since the introduction of the transfer portal, FCS programs across the country have used the portal to their advantage to acquire new — and often times experienced — talent. Sometimes transfer players have an immediate impact after stepping on campus, contributing right away to FCS teams. 

Here's a breakdown of the transfer portal and the FCS through so far, looking at FBS to FCS transfers and FCS to FCS transfers.

Number of transfers by school

School Number of Transfers
Alabama A&M 28
Southern Illinois 20
Jackson State 12
Grambling State 11
Southern, Samford, Sam Houston 10
Texas A&M-Commerce, Southeastern Louisiana, Norfolk State 8
Northern Colorado, Missouri State, Florida A&M,
Eastern Kentucky, Duquesne, Central Arkansas
7
Youngstown State, Southern Utah, Illinois State,
Alcorn State, Alabama State
6
Towson, Tarleton, Stony Brook, Montana,
Indiana State, UIW, Eastern Illinois, Bethune-Cookman
5
UT Martin, Richmond, Northwestern State,
North Dakota, Morehead State, Mississippi Valley State,
McNeese, Jacksonville State, Elon, Delaware
4
West Carolina, Wagner, Villanova, UC Davis,
Tennessee Tech, Stephen F. Austin, Sacred Heart,
Robert Morris, Rhode Island, Portland State,
Northern Iowa, North Carolina A&T, North Alabama,
Mercer, Hampton, Gardner-Webb, Furman
Charleston Southern
3
Southeast Missouri State, Saint Francis,
Sacramento State, Prairie View A&M, Northern Arizona,
North Carolina Central, New Hampshire,
Montana State, Maine, Long Island,
Lamar, ETSU, Eastern Washington, Campbell
2
Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Butler, Cal Poly, Chattanooga,
Colgate, Davidson, Delaware State, Dixie State, Drake,
Georgetown, Houston Baptist, Idaho State,
Kennesaw State, Merrimack, Monmouth, Nicholls,
San Diego, South Dakota, Stetson, Texas Southern,
William & Mary, Wofford
1

Three-hundred-eighty-one players and counting have found a new home from the transfer portal at the FCS level so far this offseason. As shown above, some teams have been more active than others in the portal acquiring players. Keep in mind FCS programs only get 63 equivalency scholarships and many of the players that have found new homes from the portal now cut into that number.

Number of transfers by number of schools

Number of transfers Number of Schools
28 1
20 1
12 1
11 1
10 3
8 3
7 6
6 5
5 8
4 10
3 18
2 14
1 22

Ninty-two different FCS schools have dipped into the transfer portal this offseason.  There are only 130 FCS programs this year. Almost 72% of programs will have a transfer on the roster this fall.

Number of transfers by conference

Conference Number of transfers
SWAC 92
MVFC 52
Big Sky, CAA 34
WAC, Southland 26
SoCon 23
ASun 19
NEC 18
OVC, Big South 14
MEAC 11
Pioneer 8
Patriot 2

The SWAC by far has the most number of transfers of any conference in the FCS. The conference has four of the seven teams with the most transfers. Alabama A&M's 28 transfers are eight more than any other school. It's an arms race in the SWAC.

It may seem like every team is dipping into the transfer portal with the large number of transfers around the country, but one notable team has yet to do so — defending champion North Dakota State.

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The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions.

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