Alabama GOP Candidates Clash Over Faith & Interfaith Dinner

It's March 24th, Birmingham News, today starts now, AI-powered and ready.

I'm Corey with the story.

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Auburn, has introduced a bill called

the Student Athlete Act of 2026.

It would let college athletes transfer schools just once without losing a year of play.

The goal was to give them more stability while finishing their degrees.

The legislation keeps the standard five years of eligibility for athletes,

no matter injuries or other issues.

But anyone entering the transfer portal more than once would have to sit out that full academic year.

Tuberville argues the current free transfer system hurts recruiting from high schools.

He says coaches now chase quick wins by grabbing portal players,

which drives up costs for athletes making money through name, image and likeness, deals.

In his view, cost and moves keep players from settling in and graduating.

A one-time transfer makes sense for big life changes like family problems or coaching conflicts,

but repeating it should come with real penalties.

This push aims to balance player freedom with program needs and education focus,

potentially reshaving how college sports handle transfers moving forward.