Why UNC's Seth Trimble is in transfer portal even with no eligibility left originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Seth Trimble appeared to complete his college basketball career with the conclusion of the 2025-26 season with North Carolina.
That's what made the Monday news quite surprising: Trimble is entering the transfer portal.
The UNC guard is making a forward thinking move, reported by On3 Sports.
NEW: North Carolina guard Seth Trimble has entered the NCAA transfer portal with a "Do Not Contact" tag, @PeteNakos reports.
Trimble currently has no eligibility remaining.https://t.co/mZ8mLX1jtdpic.twitter.com/bNfRArAU79
— On3 (@On3) April 20, 2026
There is actually a reason this makes sense, even if it seems bizarre.
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Why is Seth Trimble in the transfer portal?
Trimble is planning ahead.
There are two paths here for Trimble to take, both involving the NCAA in some capacity.
On the one hand, he can appeal to try and be granted an individual extra year of eligibility.
There's also a path where the NCAA decides to approve a new five-year eligibility type of rule that has been discussed.
Seth Trimble would need an NCAA waiver or the NCAA to go to a five-year eligibility concept to play the 2026-27 season. https://t.co/VL9bkj39tN
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) April 20, 2026
There's a chance none of that happens and Trimble has nothing to do.
But it makes sense for him to enter the portal while it's open, just in case.