By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Chaos is defined as complete disorder and confusion.

And that perfectly describes the current landscape in major college athletics where the transfer portal and name, image and likeness have created an environment in which there is no structure or accountability.

There is no leadership or rules, or a shared vision for moving forward.

The list of shortfalls is staggering.

Iowa fans can blame offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor for being disloyal since he now has twice bailed on his home-state school.

But in fairness to Proctor, he is a product of a flawed system.

The fact that Proctor, a 2023 graduate of Southeast Polk high School, is allowed to transfer back to Alabama after having transferred from Alabama to Iowa just two months ago, and to make the move in the middle of the spring semester, says as much or more about the current landscape than it says about Proctor.

It’s hard to think of another student-athlete that has transferred right smack in the middle of a semester.

But if Proctor can pull it off without losing any eligibility, you can assume that others will soon follow.

“It is unfortunate that Kadyn (Proctor) has informed us of his intentions to leave our program today,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said in a statement. “We wish him well in the future.”

Proctor has made it easy for Hawkeye fans to question his loyalty and his commitment because to leave Iowa after just two months isn’t a good look, especially after having bailed on the Hawkeyes in high school when he switched his commitment to Alabama.

It now seems that Proctor acted impulsively in the wake of Nick Saban announcing his retirement as the Alabama head coach.

Proctor started all 14 games at left tackle for Alabama as a true freshman last season, so he obviously would have fit in nicely at Iowa.

But it just wasn’t meant to be be for reasons that might never be clear.

Student-athletes deserve a chance to benefit financially from their name, image and likeness because there is certainly enough money to go around, and because it’s only fair that student-athletes get a slice of a pie that has helped to turn multiple head football and men’s basketball coaches into millionaires.

Student-athletes also deserve the freedom to transfer without having to sit out because head coaches can come and go as they please.

A double standard was allowed to exist for far too long at the expense of the student-athlete.

But there is also a need for structure, or there is chaos.

The NCAA for decades ruled with an iron fist, but when faced with the challenge of co-existing with the transfer portal and NIL, it has failed to govern or to take any responsibility.

This week marks the start of an open window for the transfer portal and that helps to explain why at least 17 teams declined a chance to participate in the National Invitation Tournament.

Those teams apparently are too busy trying to build their rosters to play in the NIT, and that’s a shame.

This trend could ultimately lead to the demise of the NIT.

It makes absolutely no sense to have an open window in the transfer portal during post-season play.

Why not push it back three or four weeks to avoid a conflict of interest?

At some point, this chaos will have to be addressed because we’re never going back to the previous setup.

The United State Supreme Court made sure of that when it voted 9-0 to uphold the lower court’s decision that NCAA restrictions on “education-related benefits” for college athletes violated antitrust law.

The decision was celebrated by many as being fair and long overdue.

Unfortunately, there was no plan for moving forward and big-time college athletics has since turned into free agency with student-athletes coming and going at a disturbing pace in search of happiness and financial reward.

Iowa fans can take joy in knowing that Proctor didn’t cash in significantly in NIL money during his brief time as a Hawkeye.

Iowa Swarm Collective CEO Brad Heinrichs said on a Des Moines radio station that Proctor only received NIL money from the corporate side of the collective, and none from the fans, and that he “hadn’t gotten very much yet.”

As for what Alabama is paying him to come back, one can only imagine.