[OutsiderFan]

I don't see how lack of transfers is the big problem with Stanford Football.  Recruit the right players, develop them, coach them up, and play an entertaining style of football that prepares players for the next level and you need not worry about transfers in or out of the program.

I truly don’t see how anyone can look at this PAC 12 season and not get the importance of the portal and NIL.  Lincoln Riley is a good coach.  No question.  But he didn’t take over SC and turn them around with the old roster.  He used the portal and NIL to poach perhaps the best QB in college football, the Biletnikoff winner and, I think, a mere 17 others. 

Good programs lose players to the portal. For a host of reasons.  Those programs, however, can also get players through the portal. And with the help of NIL in some cases marquis players.

To only have a one way door is a significant disadvantage.  To deny that is to deny reality.

Stanford also has an advantage no other school has - the ability to confer a Stanford degree. I don't buy that Stanford grads are the end all be all, but the preponderance of people out there making hiring and investment decisions do.

As a result, Stanford transfer attrition will be exceptionally low. Grad transfers are a different story. IMO, Stanford would get more value out of making it easier for graduated players to stick around as 4th or 5th year Seniors than it makes sense to keep up with the Joneses on transfer and NIL money. Stanford needs to emphasize what differentiates it and what it does better than others as much as it can, and limit how many "me too" things it tries to compete with others as much as possible.

[OutsiderFan]

I don't see how lack of transfers is the big problem with Stanford Football.  Recruit the right players, develop them, coach them up, and play an entertaining style of football that prepares players for the next level and you need not worry about transfers in or out of the program.

I truly don’t see how anyone can look at this PAC 12 season and not get the importance of the portal and NIL.  Lincoln Riley is a good coach.  No question.  But he didn’t take over SC and turn them around with the old roster.  He used the portal and NIL to poach perhaps the best QB in college football, the Biletnikoff winner and, I think, a mere 17 others. 

Good programs lose players to the portal. For a host of reasons.  Those programs, however, can also get players through the portal. And with the help of NIL in some cases marquis players.

To only have a one way door is a significant disadvantage.  To deny that is to deny reality.

Stanford also has an advantage no other school has - the ability to confer a Stanford degree. I don't buy that Stanford grads are the end all be all, but the preponderance of people out there making hiring and investment decisions do.

As a result, Stanford transfer attrition will be exceptionally low. Grad transfers are a different story. IMO, Stanford would get more value out of making it easier for graduated players to stick around as 4th or 5th year Seniors than it makes sense to keep up with the Joneses on transfer and NIL money. Stanford needs to emphasize what differentiates it and what it does better than others as much as it can, and limit how many "me too" things it tries to compete with others as much as possible.