We’ve got a big follow up for you regarding roster cuts in college swimming. We shared a lot of information about what could happen with roster cuts on the horizon, and now we’ll get into what actually happened with athletes entering the transfer portal.

Before we dive in, a quick heads up:

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all this — the roster cuts, the transfers, the uncertainty — you’re not alone. We’re hearing from so many families who are asking: “What does this mean for us?”

That’s exactly why we created our 0 to Hero Recruiting Bootcamp, which kicks off April 27. It’s a 5-week virtual program designed to help swimmers and families take control of their recruiting process — even in the middle of all this chaos. By the end of the camp, you’ll have:

✅ A list of target schools that make sense for your swimmer, even in a shifting recruiting landscape

✅ A personalized pitch and ready-to-send emails/texts for coaches

✅ A complete timeline and roadmap — no more guessing what to do next

✅ 24/7 access to real NCAA athletes and our team for support, feedback, and advice

We’ve worked with dozens of swimmers through changing recruiting tides, and this Bootcamp gives you the tools and support you need to adapt and thrive.

👉 Spots are going fast, and the cohort is limited — sign up today to guarantee your spot.

So What Actually Happened with the Transfer Portal?

Before we get into the details, here’s the main bullet point: All in all, this is a very impactful, though not disastrous, outcome for college swimming. A lot of shuffling will occur within the Power 4 schools, mid major swimming will get a lot faster, and the top end of Division 3 swimming will feel a small effect this year (and greater effect in years to come).

It was unclear how many athletes would transfer that were cut, but what we’re seeing so far is a significant portal entrance (it’s important to note that not every athlete in the portal will transfer). So far we’ve seen 148 male Power 4 swimmers enter the portal (of a minimum 149 divers + swimmers that had to be cut). We estimate 160 Power 4 male athletes (swimmers + divers) ended up being cut, so over 90% are at least exploring the opportunity to transfer. For women, 131 swimmers entered the portal (out of a minimum of 115 swimmers + divers that had to be cut). We estimate 145 female athletes (swimmers + divers) were cut, so this means about 90% are exploring transfers.

Another detail- most of these transfers are coming from Division 1 Power 4 schools. About 70 male mid major swimmers entered the portal, and 105 female mid major swimmers entered the portal. We estimate about one third of these to be high impact transfers that will look to transfer up to a Power 4 school, while the others will likely stay in the mid majors or move to a Division 3 school.

In summary- a lot of athletes are looking to transfer, with the most coming from the Power 4 conferences. As expected, most of these Power 4 athletes will transfer to other Power 4 schools or mid majors. As you move down Division 1, less and less of an effect is felt. We expect to see many transfers into Division 3 (on the order of a couple dozen to several dozen), with most going to the elite Division 3 schools (UAA conference especially). Division 3 will feel some effects this year, but more effects in the coming years, as future recruits weigh Division 3 as a more serious option.

The best defense against all this change? A proactive, organized recruiting strategy.

Our Recruiting Bootcamp gives you the tools, guidance, and clarity to navigate the new landscape with confidence.

Camp starts April 27 — spots are limited, so join today and get ahead of the curve.