THE College Football Transfer Portal has been a topic of discussion in recent years, with the NCAA studies new rules for transfer portal. Previously, there were two windows to declare a transfer, but the Division I FBS Oversight Committee recommended and received approval for a new transfer window move forward.
The new transfer window will run from January 2 to 16, eliminating the two-window solution currently in place. According to Pete Nakos of On3, players who are still playing after January 16, teams participating in the national title game would still have five days to enter the portal after their respective team’s elimination.
This is a major change to the transfer portal, going from two windows to a single window in January. However, some rules remain in effect, such as players being allowed 30 days after a coach’s dismissal to access the portal. A player does not need to commit to a new team during the portal, but must enter the portal during the period.
The new transfer portal
Before the changes, FBS football had two transfer windows. The first was a window open in early December. It opened on Monday after the selections for the pétanque matches. In 2024, this took place from December 9 to 28. However, problems were caused by this situation. Not only do teams prepare for bowl games or playoff games, but they also have high school signing day and coaching changes. A mass exodus, like what happened in Marshall in 2024, caused them to withdraw from a bowl game. Players would then have a 15-day spring window.
The new portal changed this to a single window. A player must now declare for the portal within 15 days in January. This will be January 2-16, 2026. This is after the majority of playoff games. Players can also access the portal if their coach is fired, up to 30 days after the dismissal. Additionally, teams playing in the national title game can enter the portal five games after the end of the game.
This will eliminate teams that cannot present programs due to transfers during bowl games. It also eases the stress of a busy December. Yet this only extends the offseason for college football coaches.
