Nothing has been finalized at this time but it does appear the NCAA is taking steps toward allowing football and basketball players the ability to transfer once during their undergraduate careers without having to sit out for a season.

The NCAA has already announced the formation of a working group that will soon vote on the potential rule change after the Big Ten and ACC have each expressed their desire to see the rule passed by the NCAA.

“The current system is unsustainable. Working group members believe it’s time to bring our transfer rules more in line with today’s college landscape,” said working group chair Jon Steinbrecher, commissioner of the Mid-American Conference according to NCAA.org. “This concept provides a uniform approach that is understandable, predictable and objective. Most importantly, it benefits students.”

Should this rule pass, there still will be some restrictions on transfers seeking to gain their eligibility immediately at a new school. Athletes will have to have gained a release from their previous school, have to be in good academic standing, maintain academic progress at their new school and have no pending disciplinary actions or suspensions before gaining eligibility at a new school.

During a recent interview with Knoxville-based radio station Fox Sports Knoxville, Tennessee AD Phillip Fulmer was asked to share his thoughts on the potential one-time transfer rule.

While the Tennessee administrator admitted he isn’t a fan of the one-time transfer proposal, he was willing to share an interesting idea to improve the rule should it be passed by the NCAA.

“You know, I don’t think we’re holding the kids accountable enough period, to be honest with you,” Fulmer said on the show. “I mean, you come in and you’re not starting, whatever, as a freshman and you got a chance to transfer, I don’t know if that’s healthy. I don’t know if that’s telling our youth the right thing, you know? Fight through some things and after 30 hours of academic work or something, you know, some number that makes — you know (the players) commit (to giving the school a chance). Because that’s awful hard on coaches, you got a guy then all of a sudden, you don’t. I don’t like anything about that.”

Requiring student-athletes to complete coursework before making transfer decisions is an interesting idea by Fulmer. Homesickness is something all college students potential face when they leave home for the first time. If athletes were required to stick it out for a certain set of hours before immediately transferring out, they may just come to find they enjoy their school after letting it grow on them a little.