This time of year always brings to mind that iconic scene in Dumb and Dumber when Jim Carrey famously quips, “So, you’re telling me there’s a chance?”

For the Class of 2025 recruits aiming for Division I college football, that chance is gone. The reality is harsh but necessary to accept: the window for securing a Division I scholarship is effectively closed. If you’re a senior recruit still sending direct messages to Division I coaches nationwide, it’s time to face the truth—your odds of landing a scholarship between now and the early signing period next month are slim to none.

The truth is, most college coaches had their recruiting classes set last summer after hosting their camps.

I get it—it’s disappointing. Maybe you had an incredible senior season. You dominated on the field, did everything right, and expected that performance to pay off. In the past, it might have. But in today’s transfer portal and NIL-driven era, things have shifted. As we might say in southern Indiana, “It just don’t work that way no more.” Division I teams now build their rosters well in advance, leaving little room for late risers.

But you still have options.

You can keep holding out hope for a scholarship that won’t materialize, clinging to the “D1 or bust” mentality. You can keep funneling money into a hype man who promises exposure but delivers little. You can try to walk on and join the very small percentage of players who eventually earn a scholarship.

Or, you can adjust your expectations.

As Carl Reed of 247Sports aptly notes, in the era of the transfer portal, where you start doesn’t have to determine where you end. If you believe you deserve a higher-level scholarship, prove it on the field at a Division II or Division III school. Take that partial scholarship offer and make the most of it. If you’re truly a Division I-caliber athlete, you should dominate at the lower levels. Perform well, enter the portal, and let your talent speak for itself.

As Reed also emphasizes: you can’t claim you were “slept on” if you never make a name for yourself again.

The key now is to move forward and make the most of the opportunities you do have. It’s hard—I understand what it feels like to work toward a dream, make all the right choices, and still come up short. But rather than waste time, energy, and money chasing an outcome that’s no longer possible, accept reality. It’s undefeated.

Focus on what’s in front of you. Work hard, make the most of the hand you’ve been dealt, and use it as a platform to grow. The most successful paths forward often start with humility, grit, and determination.

Take it from me: go be a baller. Make the most of what you have, not what you don’t.