[Goose]

UW made it to the CFP CG and yet there are already a number of players that hit the portal just hours after the DeBoer's move.

Just illustrates that in this portal era if your head coach leaves (fired, retires, quits for higher profile job, etc.), you are likely to have a lot of players jump into the portal.   It is certainly true for 2-10 type teams and apparently is true for 14-1 teams too.

Given that many players on UWs team are "football first" guys and given that they are going to be playing for a new coach(s) in probably a "new" system going into the portal is almost mandatory. The new UW coach can recruit you just like all the other coaches will. If he doesn't want you, you certainly need to go elsewhere anyway. Since the UW degree as such means little to you, a degree from anywhere else is just as good.

OTOH on teams that are "successful" and whose coach stays a different set of guys will go into the portal because they know that their playing time in the future will be limited at best. In fact, the coach may want them to go to clear roster spots and told them as much. Either way, it is a "brave new world" out there. This applies to everybody, not just "bad" teams.

[Goose]

UW made it to the CFP CG and yet there are already a number of players that hit the portal just hours after the DeBoer's move.

Just illustrates that in this portal era if your head coach leaves (fired, retires, quits for higher profile job, etc.), you are likely to have a lot of players jump into the portal.   It is certainly true for 2-10 type teams and apparently is true for 14-1 teams too.

Given that many players on UWs team are "football first" guys and given that they are going to be playing for a new coach(s) in probably a "new" system going into the portal is almost mandatory. The new UW coach can recruit you just like all the other coaches will. If he doesn't want you, you certainly need to go elsewhere anyway. Since the UW degree as such means little to you, a degree from anywhere else is just as good.

OTOH on teams that are "successful" and whose coach stays a different set of guys will go into the portal because they know that their playing time in the future will be limited at best. In fact, the coach may want them to go to clear roster spots and told them as much. Either way, it is a "brave new world" out there. This applies to everybody, not just "bad" teams.