Student-athletes: transfer portal, NIL opportunities, roster limits, and more – Psychology Today

There’s been a fundamental shift in how we define adulthood—and at what pace it occurs. PT’s authors consider how a once iron-clad construct is now up for grabs—and what it means for young people’s mental health today.
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College athletics is in an era of transformative changes, with ongoing developments in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) ’s transfer portal, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, roster limits, and expanded seasons. While many of these changes have benefits for student-athletes, they have also introduced new pressures and challenges that open athletes up to increased public scrutiny and mental health impacts. This post reviews the most pressing changes to college athletics impacting student-athlete mental health, as well as recommendations for mental health practitioners and stakeholders to support student-athletes navigating these evolving changes.
Recent changes to the NCAA transfer portal offer student-athletes the autonomy to find better opportunities and environments for themselves. However, the portal has also created hyper-competitive environments and introduced uncertainty surrounding career stability for many student-athletes.
These uncertainties surrounding finding a new home, being left without opportunities, and expectations to perform immediately can increase anxiety for student-athletes throughout the transfer process. Many athletes who ultimately choose to transfer may face feelings of rejection or social isolation when leaving their initial program, which can impact their self-esteem and well-being.
The introduction of NIL has increased many student-athletes’ financial opportunities through sponsorships, endorsements, and social media. However, these financial benefits are coupled with increased pressure to build and maintain personal brands and perform well both athletically and socially.
Many athletes are experiencing new challenges related to time management and burnout when balancing academic responsibilities, training schedules, and NIL obligations. Pressures to maintain a public image can foster feelings of inadequacy and unhealthy comparisons among peers, while disparities in NIL opportunities among teammates can also create unique tensions and feelings of isolation for those who may feel overlooked.
Evolving changes to team roster limits increase feelings of competition and uncertainty among many student-athletes who no longer have the security they may have entered the world of college athletics with. Extended eligibility resulting from COVID-19, changes to redshirt eligibility, and recent lawsuits have posed additional challenges for young athletes to secure playing time and scholarships. Increased competition and feelings of uncertainty can create fears surrounding losing a roster spot. With the identity of many athletes being closely linked to their team and sport, these fears can manifest in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health symptoms.
Many college athletic teams now face year-round commitments. These increases in off-season training and competitions have left reduced room for the rest and recovery necessary to prevent burnout among student-athletes. Student-athletes are more susceptible to physical and mental exhaustion, including overtraining syndrome, than ever before.
Furthermore, student-athletes face a reduced ability to enjoy a typical college experience. Opportunities to engage in formal clubs and organizations or informal social activities outside of the college athletic environment are becoming increasingly rare for student-athletes and can result in further isolation from non-athlete peers.
As the landscape of college athletics continues to evolve, it is more important than ever that universities, athletic departments, and sports governing bodies are prepared to respond to resulting mental health challenges. Recommendations include:
While changes to the college athletics landscape have empowered many student-athletes, they have also introduced new pressures and complexities that impact their mental health. By recognizing and being prepared to respond to these unique challenges, stakeholders in college athletics can best foster environments that remain conducive to student-athlete well-being, not just performance success.
References
Madden, E., & O’Hallarn, B. (2024). “The game was ruined for me there:” Examining the mental health byproducts of the transfer portal and NIL on student-athletes. Journal of Athlete Development and Experience, 6(2), 1.
Reese, R. (2023). The unintended consequences of the NCAA college athletics transfer portal. Journal of Higher Education Athletics & Innovation, 2(1), 97-111.
Tess M. Kilwein, Ph.D., ABPP, is a board-certified clinical and sport psychologist who holds space for difficult conversations about the things we don’t talk about: sex, love, sports, gender, trauma, and addiction.
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There’s been a fundamental shift in how we define adulthood—and at what pace it occurs. PT’s authors consider how a once iron-clad construct is now up for grabs—and what it means for young people’s mental health today.

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