Auburn Coach Calls Out Rampant Tampering in College Football

Alex Golesh says the transfer portal era has amplified unethical recruiting practices across the sport.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 2:07pm

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Auburn head coach Alex Golesh strongly criticized the rampant tampering and unethical recruiting practices happening across college football, especially with the rise of the transfer portal. Golesh believes there needs to be clearer rules and "guardrails" around how coaches can interact with players on other teams' rosters, saying "what goes around comes around" and the "football gods will find you" if you don't do things the right way.

Why it matters

Tampering and unethical recruiting have long been issues in college football, but the transfer portal era has only intensified the problem as coaches aggressively pursue players already committed to other programs. Golesh's comments highlight the growing concerns around the lack of clear rules governing these practices and the potential consequences for programs and coaches who don't follow the spirit of the rules.

The details

Golesh, who previously coached at a Group of Five program before taking the Auburn job, believes there is essentially no difference in the level of tampering between the SEC and smaller conferences. He said the transfer portal "amplified it in every imaginable way" and that "there eventually needs to be guardrails on this thing." Golesh specifically called out the unethical practice of coaches contacting players already on other teams' rosters, saying "Is it right to call a kid that's on somebody else's roster to go get them? It's not."

  • Golesh made these comments to reporters on January 29, 2026.

The players

Alex Golesh

The head football coach at Auburn University, who previously coached at a Group of Five program before taking the Auburn job.

Dabo Swinney

The head football coach at Clemson University, who recently revealed that Ole Miss coach Pete Golding had conversations with a Clemson player who later transferred to Ole Miss.

Pete Golding

The head football coach at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).

Darian Mensah

A $10 million quarterback who reached a settlement with Duke University after initially declaring his intent to stay with the Blue Devils before transferring.

Demond Williams

A quarterback who signed with the University of Washington for the 2026 season before suddenly trying to get out of that deal and play elsewhere.

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What they’re saying

“There eventually needs to be guardrails on this thing. I think we all want to know the rules in which you can operate in... The truth is, right now, there aren't any, so you operate ethnically with what you feel like right now.”

— Alex Golesh, Auburn Head Coach

“Is it right to call a kid that's on somebody else's roster to go get them? It's not. I think, in a lot of ways, what goes around comes around... I'm a strong believer in the football gods will find you at some point.”

— Alex Golesh, Auburn Head Coach

What’s next

The NCAA is expected to continue reviewing its transfer portal rules and tampering regulations in the coming months in an effort to address the growing concerns around unethical recruiting practices in college football.

The takeaway

Golesh's comments highlight the urgent need for the NCAA to establish clearer guidelines and enforcement mechanisms around tampering and recruiting in the transfer portal era. The lack of defined rules has led to an environment where unethical practices have become widespread, jeopardizing the integrity of the sport.