Fans of the Seattle Seahawks may get to watch one of their players, TJ Harden, return to campus and play college football again in 2026. Some say it’s a “ludicrous” proposition, but it’s very real.
College basketball has seen former NBA players return to collegiate programs. Now college football is joining in on the fun too.
Ex-SMU RB TJ Harden Plans to Enter College Football Transfer Portal
On Saturday, Harden made his preseason debut as a running back with the Seahawks, taking two carries for a yard and recovering a fumble. Two days later, he was released from the team.
Fast forward another two days, and Harden now has plans to enter the college football transfer portal. Harden spent last season at SMU, but now he’ll hunt for a new team to play for, though this time it will be in college rather than the NFL.
A player who has already played pro football is now getting a chance to head back to college. It’s something that generations of past players would have loved to have had a chance to do when their pro aspirations fell short, and now a select few are getting that opportunity.
PREDICT THE CFB SEASON: PFN’s Free CFB Playoff Predictor
Still, the sports community is in disbelief over Harden’s decision. After all, there was a time when some players, like Maurice Clarett, tried to sue just to leave college for the NFL a year early; now others are trying to stay in school for as long as possible?
“I’m old enough to remember when guys were suing to leave college early. Now they are suing to go back to college,” one person remarked.
Im old enough to remember when guys were suing to leave college early
Now they are suing to go back to college https://t.co/9dK6oBjRi8 pic.twitter.com/nvPftdZThD
— Official Ohio State DG (@DylanEveryday) August 20, 2026
Sleeper’s Seahawks account couldn’t believe it either, calling Harden’s decision to go back to college “crazy.”
“This is crazy! He had two carries for the Seahawks in Week 1 of the preseason and is entering the transfer portal five days later.”
This is crazy!
He had two carries for the Seahawks in Week 1 of the preseason and is entering the transfer portal five days later https://t.co/z4BySyue33
— SleeperSeahawks (@SleeperSeahawks) August 20, 2026
One fan said what everyone was thinking: “This is an insane sentence to read 😭😭😭”
Meanwhile, another felt like Harden’s move goes against the grain of what college football stands for. Yet, it took two seconds for them to go right into recruiting mode.
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free College Fantasy Simulator
“I feel like we’ve completely lost the plot of college football… That being said, if he wants to come to Nebraska.”
I feel like we’ve completely lost the plot of college football.
…. That being said if he wants to come to Nebraska….. https://t.co/ZVxSqDe39j
— HuskGuys (@HuskGuys) August 20, 2026
Then, another commenter took things to the extreme, suggesting the NCAA should just open up eligibility for everyone, including Tom Brady.
Just make everyone eligible to play whenever. Tom Brady should be able to play for Michigan if he wants to. https://t.co/3QctiWT27S
— PokeNation (@Big12Pokes) August 20, 2026
Some even went so far as to say, “College football is ruined.”
Clearly, this is not a development that football fans are thrilled about.
Yet, for Harden, it’s a chance to put some better tape on film, hoping it will earn him a better opportunity in the NFL next year.
Harden had 171 carries for 787 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025. He also hauled in 19 receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown. His 76.8 PFN RB Impact grade ranked #75 among RBs across college football.
