College Baseball Coaches Discuss Revenue Sharing, Transfer Portal, Postseason Format

The 2026 college baseball season is here, and with it comes The Athletic’s annual coaches forum. Top college baseball coaches share their thoughts on some of the sport’s biggest issues.

This year, the conversation’s split into three parts. The third part digs into revenue sharing, the transfer portal, and postseason formats.

Coaches from programs like Miami, Ole Miss, Cincinnati, Kansas, North Carolina, UTSA, Georgia, Troy, and Washington have their say. Their perspectives give a pretty broad look at where college baseball stands right now—and maybe where it’s headed.

Revenue Sharing in College Baseball

Revenue sharing’s a hot topic these days. The rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals has changed the game, letting players earn money while they’re still in college.

But it’s not an even playing field. Some schools can offer a lot more than others, and that’s led to some real gaps.

Positive Impact of Revenue Sharing

Coaches like J.D. Arteaga from Miami and Jordan Bischel from Cincinnati see the upside. Arteaga admits Miami doesn’t have the same budget as some SEC giants, but says being able to help with tuition has really boosted recruiting.

Bischel thinks revenue sharing makes things more transparent. He likes that student-athletes finally get a fair piece of the pie.

Challenges and Disparities

That said, there are definitely problems. Dan Fitzgerald from Kansas talks about the gap between schools with deep pockets and those scraping by.

He misses the days when scholarships were shared more evenly, which made things feel fairer. Eddie Smith from Washington also points out how tough it is to compete against programs with way bigger budgets.

Future of Revenue Sharing

Most coaches agree there’s still a lot to figure out. Scott Forbes from North Carolina says schools need to stay flexible and keep learning as the landscape changes.

He thinks we’ll only really understand the impact of revenue sharing after a few more seasons. Pat Hallmark from UTSA calls this whole period a learning curve for everyone involved.

The Transfer Portal: A Double-Edged Sword

The transfer portal’s changed college sports in a big way. Players can move around more freely, but it’s made life trickier for coaches trying to build strong, lasting teams.

Evaluating Transfers

Coaches have to weigh a lot when considering transfers. J.D. Arteaga from Miami says the reason a player leaves their old school really matters.

Mike Bianco from Ole Miss adds that skill level and team chemistry are huge factors too. Not every transfer is a perfect fit.

Statistical Analysis

Numbers matter a lot in these decisions. Jordan Bischel from Cincinnati and Eddie Smith from Washington both look at college stats over high school ones.

Bischel says college stats tell you a lot more about a player’s real abilities. Smith agrees, pointing out that it’s tough to fake your numbers over a long season.

Challenges in the Transfer Portal

Of course, the portal isn’t perfect. Dan Fitzgerald from Kansas and Scott Forbes from North Carolina say the fast pace makes it hard to really get to know a player before bringing them in.

Forbes also thinks it’s important to look at the level of competition a transfer faced before making a final call.

Postseason Format: Room for Improvement?

People love to debate the postseason format in college baseball. Some coaches are fine with how things are, but others see places to tweak.