With just one week left in the college football regular season, fans and coaches alike are eagerly anticipating the arrival of Portal Season. This offseason phenomenon has seen a significant influx of college football players and athletes entering the transfer portal for various reasons over the past few years. COVID-19, an extra year of eligibility, the pursuit of more playing time elsewhere, and name, image, and likeness (NIL) have all played a role.

Unprecedented Portal Season This Year

Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule hinted at the uniqueness of this year's "Portal Season" during his weekly news conference on Monday. He stated, "Think this year, we're going to end up with 30-50 guys (Nebraska players) in the portal with the roster (limit). … I don't want any of them to go into the portal. I want them all to stay here and develop. It's just the new world we're in. It's going to be different."The "new world" Rhule referred to is the upcoming roster limit that will be implemented in college athletics starting next season. With the settlement of House vs. NCAA in October, the NCAA has removed the specific number of scholarships and replaced them with roster limits. For example, college football will transition from 85 scholarship spots to a roster limit of 105 players.The Cornhuskers have already experienced the impact of Portal Season, with cornerback Syncere Safeeullah and wide receiver Malachi Coleman leaving the team. Coleman, who Rhule said was redshirting this season for development, entered the transfer portal on Monday, further emphasizing Rhule's concerns. Rhule said of Coleman, "Malachi came in and told us that he was going to go into the portal, so obviously, I wish him the best. (A) great, great young man and a local guy. Had some big moments for us last year."Nebraska (6-5 overall, 3-5 in Big Ten) will conclude the regular season on Friday, Nov. 29 against Iowa (7-4, 5-3) at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. This final game will be a crucial one for the Cornhuskers as they look to end the season on a high note.The transfer portal has become a significant part of college football in recent years, and this year's "Portal Season" is shaping up to be an unprecedented event. Coaches and players alike are navigating this new landscape, and the impact on teams and programs is yet to be fully realized. As the season comes to a close, fans will be watching closely to see how each team handles the transfer portal and what changes it will bring in the future.