It’s dominated headlines for years.
From college athletes inking million-dollar deals to players transferring once, twice or even three times, the new era of NIL and the transfer portal has forever changed the way collegiate athletics function.
And while the most drastic impacts are felt at the highest levels, there is a trickle-down effect that has permeated every sector of the college landscape.
D-I athletes are seeing the large figures and flashy sponsorship deals, but D-II, D-III and even junior college players are feeling the ramifications of the changing landscape around Name, Image and Likeness.
JUCO programs have long been a proving ground for athletes to parlay successful seasons into opportunities at four-year programs. And in Mississippi, the state that boasts the strongest junior college conference in the country, taking that path has been a beneficial option for a plethora of future stars.
But now, the landscape of JUCO athletics has shifted due to the sweeping changes from above.
Southwest Mississippi C.C. Athletic Director Ken Jackson explains that his programs have yet to feel much of a tangible impact, but he did say that he’s noticed a shift in the stigma around changing schools.
“One thing I’ve noticed is that kids–because of the nature of the sport now–have changed in terms of their mindset,” Jackson said. “The willingness to give transferring some thought is stronger, after years ago if you signed with a school, you were there for at least two years.”
And while the college level is where changes are occurring, Jackson adds that when the dust settles, it will be young athletes that endure the harshest repercussions from the portal’s popularity.
“It’s really hurting the high school kid. Nowadays, the first place coaches are looking to fill a void is the portal, because they can get a 21 or 22-year old with experience as opposed to an 18-year old that has none,” Jackson said. “The only kids that will be recruited heavily out of high school will be the four and five-stars, so the diamonds in the rough might be going a different route.”
When it comes to NIL, Southwest, like most other junior colleges, is unable to offer any form of financial compensation. But the school does allow athletes to pursue business opportunities on their own, providing them with an opportunity to earn revenue on a smaller scale.
“So many of the JUCOs are already strapped for money, but we encourage our student-athletes if they can go out and strike their own deal with a local business or somewhere from their hometown,” Jackson said. “We’re 100% supportive of that, but in terms of the schools themselves offering money, there just aren’t many JUCOs out there that could do that now.”
Andrew Givens, an Assistant Vice President of the National Junior College Athletics Association, has experienced a similar adjustment period as he attempts to help guide the hundreds of schools in his organization through this new era.
He emphasizes that junior college prospects are still sought after despite the influx of portal options, as Givens explained that the 2.5 GPA requirement to transfer from a two-year school creates more well-rounded athletes in contrast to the needed 1.8 mark at four-years.
“The two-year college student is still at the top of mind for a lot of four-year programs,” Givens said. “And that’s because the athlete has been able to adjust to college life for two years, they’ve developed academically and athletically and there is a higher GPA requirement to transfer from a two-year as opposed to a four.”
But while the opportunities to transfer up are still in abundance, Givens did add that the NJCAA is working to even the playing field for JUCO athletes with its “Same Game, Same Rules” initiative that was proposed in March.
Its main goal is to provide equal opportunities for two-year students through various bylaw changes, with the current GPA rules being an example.
“‘Same Game, Same Rules’ basically says that we want fairness and equality for our two-year college students,” Givens said. “Right now with the 2.5 GPA requirement, if someone graduates from a two-year with a 2.3, that means they just can’t go to a D-I and potentially earn NIL compensation. A four-year student could, and that can be the difference of hundreds of dollars.”
But while there are plenty of issues to work through, there is a possible silver lining for junior colleges according to Jackson.
Alongside the NCAA’s guidelines surrounding NIL, the organization also laid down new rules regarding roster size for the 2025-2026 academic year. Across the board, college programs will have to adhere to strict scholarship limitations, with football rosters being cut to a maximum of 105 from the 128 average and baseball down to 34 from its average of 40 as examples.
Jackson believes that JUCOs like Southwest will be the benefactors of that mass exodus when players search for other athletic avenues.
“With roster limits potentially being cut, I think a lot of players will filter back down to the JUCO level,” Jackson explained. “I think that’s where junior colleges can benefit, so I’ve been encouraging my coaches to stay in touch with the players that have already received scholarships at four-year schools.”
Of course, there has been another wild card thrown into this deck.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia made national headlines when he won a lawsuit against the NCAA that granted him an extra year of eligibility in December. He was awarded that bonus season because he had played at the JUCO level prior to his time with the Commodores, and he believed that if those years counted against his overall eligibility, then he was unlawfully prohibited from earning NIL compensation.
That ruling prompted the NCAA to grant a plethora of waivers to athletes in similar positions, and some believe that there will eventually be a sweeping change in legislation that rules junior college years will not count towards eligibility.
In that case, high school athletes would have the option to attend a two-year school to familiarize themselves with the college game while also getting necessary academic requirements out of the way. Then, they could attend a four-year school and enjoy the full benefits of NIL revenue while having already played a pair of seasons at the collegiate level.
But while that possibility would be a major boost for junior colleges across the nation, Jackson fails to see a future in which JUCO years do not count at all. Instead, he believes the NCAA will eventually increase the amount of years an athlete is eligible to play college sports as a form of compromise.
“From what I’ve been hearing, I don’t see that happening,” Jackson said of the JUCO eligibility rule. “It was discussed a bit at the NJCAA convention, but not even as much as I thought it would be. I think what we’ll eventually see is that JUCO years will count, but the NCAA will allow for five years of standard eligibility as opposed to four.”
Givens agrees with that sentiment, adding that there has been nothing concrete when it comes to altering eligibility rules at the national level.
“There are currently no changes in the NJCAA regarding eligibility,” Givens said. “A lot of people think those recent rulings mean that the two years don’t count, but those were just waivers from people that had to have played in the 2024-2025 season.”
The junior college ruling is one of many ongoing issues regarding the current structure of college athletics, and the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel still seems far off.
So while the NCAA and Supreme Court continue to wrestle over the House Settlement and a myriad of other topics, junior colleges are left to wonder what their future looks like.
“There’s so many lawsuits out right now that are pending, so I just don’t think that anybody knows what the future holds,” Jackson said. “Down the road, it may be a similar case to D-I where the largest JUCOs are going to be the ones that provide the money and some won’t be able to do it.”
Givens agrees, adding that he’s seen plenty of athletes find NIL avenues within their state’s laws but does not foresee it becoming a lucrative venture at this level yet.
So in the end, while a lot is known, even more is up in the air. Junior colleges across the country are currently waiting to see how the NCAA’s decisions will impact them, and in turn, how the choices of D-I, D-II and D-III programs will trickle down.
For now, all Jackson & Co. can do is stay the course while continuing to preach the many merits of playing junior college sports in Mississippi.
“There is always the opportunity to play at the JUCO level, because a freshman has just as much of a chance to play as a sophomore,” Jackson said. “A kid has the opportunity to truly make themselves better and mature while also receiving classes at a smaller scale. I see it is a win-win.”
