In today’s college football landscape, roster turnover isn’t just expected - it’s part of the rhythm. The transfer portal has become such a constant presence that even major moves, like quarterback Dylan Raiola planning to enter the portal, don’t send shockwaves the way they once did.
But don’t mistake the lack of surprise for a lack of significance. Inside the Nebraska program, it still lands with weight.
“It was a big day,” said junior offensive lineman Tyler Knaak, who knows firsthand how fluid things can be. Knaak transferred from Utah to Nebraska earlier in his career, chasing opportunity like so many others now do. He’s seen the game shift dramatically in just a few short years - not just on the field, but in how rosters are built and rebuilt.
“100 percent,” Knaak said when asked if this kind of movement has become the new norm. “It’s the world that we live in nowadays.”
And he’s not wrong. Between NIL deals and the looming presence of revenue sharing, the college football model has been upended.
Players aren’t just choosing schools anymore - they’re navigating a marketplace. For some, that means staying loyal to a program and its vision.
For others, it’s about maximizing value while they can.
“You bring in NIL, you bring in revenue sharing - which is great for young men to get this aspect of they’re working for something now,” Knaak said. “But at the same time, you’re going to have guys that are going to go chase the program and are going to go play at the University of Nebraska on the O-line. Or you’re going to go chase monetary value…”
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every player’s situation is different.
Some are looking for playing time. Others want a bigger stage.
And yes, for many, the financial component plays a role. That’s not a knock - it’s a reality of the modern game.
“As athletes, you can either commit to a program or a dollar amount,” Knaak said. “And that’s what it’s really turning into more and more.”
That kind of honesty cuts to the core of what college football has become. The transfer portal isn’t just a tool for movement - it’s a reflection of a sport in transition. Loyalty and opportunity are still part of the equation, but they now compete with market value and brand exposure in ways that would’ve been unthinkable a decade ago.
For veterans like Knaak, the rapid pace of change can be dizzying. What used to be a year-to-year evolution now feels like it shifts week to week.
But rather than resist it, players are learning to adapt. They have to.
Because in this era, staying competitive - as a program or an individual - means understanding the full scope of what college football has become.
And right now, it’s as much about navigating the business as it is about winning games on Saturdays.