Houston Cougars to Rely More on Transfer Portal in 2026

Head coach Kelvin Sampson expects the team to utilize the transfer portal more heavily due to NIL budget constraints.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 10:55pm

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Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson has indicated that the team will likely rely more heavily on the transfer portal for recruiting in the 2026 offseason. Sampson cited the program's limited NIL budget compared to other Power 4 schools, saying "We have a poor athletic department. We're poor. We were poor when I got here, and we're still poor. We probably have the lowest budget of anybody in Power 4." With the challenges of the NIL era, Sampson expects the transfer portal to play a bigger role in the Cougars' recruiting strategy moving forward.

Why it matters

The Cougars have been a national contender under Sampson's leadership, reaching the national championship game last season. However, the financial realities of the NIL landscape pose challenges, forcing Sampson to adapt his recruiting approach to focus more on the transfer portal to supplement the program's limited resources.

The details

Sampson recently commented on the Cougars' recruiting approach, noting that the transfer portal will have a bigger role in 2026 than in past seasons. This comes after Sampson's postgame comments criticizing the program's "poor" NIL budget, saying "Teams that have the best recruiting classes usually have the most money. That's the way it is today...It's not about who we want to sign. It's about who can we afford to sign." Despite the financial constraints, the Cougars remain a top-10 team this season, sitting at 20-2 overall and 8-1 in Big 12 play.

  • The Cougars reached the national championship game last season.
  • Sampson made his comments about the transfer portal and NIL budget following the team's win over UCF on Feb. 4, 2026.

The players

Kelvin Sampson

The head coach of the Houston Cougars since 2014, Sampson has elevated the program to national contention, leading them to the national championship game last season.

Houston Cougars

The men's basketball team at the University of Houston, which has become a national powerhouse under Sampson's leadership in recent years.

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What they’re saying

“We have a poor athletic department. We're poor. We were poor when I got here, and we're still poor. We probably have the lowest budget of anybody in Power 4.”

— Kelvin Sampson, Head Coach, Houston Cougars (clutchpoints.com)

“Teams that have the best recruiting classes usually have the most money. That's the way it is today...It's not about who we want to sign. It's about who can we afford to sign.”

— Kelvin Sampson, Head Coach, Houston Cougars (clutchpoints.com)

What’s next

The Cougars will look to continue their strong season, as they are currently 20-2 overall and 8-1 in Big 12 play. Their next game is on the road against No. 16 BYU on February 7.

The takeaway

The financial realities of the NIL era pose significant challenges for programs like Houston, forcing head coach Kelvin Sampson to adapt his recruiting strategy to focus more on the transfer portal. This highlights the growing divide between the haves and have-nots in college basketball, and the need for more equitable solutions to support all programs in the new landscape.