A major change is coming to college football’s transfer portal.
On Wednesday, officials with the NCAA, college athletics’ regulatory body, adopted a proposal to completely eliminate the spring transfer period for football players at the FBS and FCS levels. The move follows a recommendation from the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee to make legislative changes to the football recruiting calendar.
Under the recommendation, undergraduate and postgraduate FBS student-athletes could enter the transfer portal between January 2-11. The Division I Administrative Committee has not yet approved that timeframe, but a vote is expected to come soon.
The 10-day transfer window, which allows football players to signal to their institution and other programs that they intend to take their talents elsewhere, would replace the current structure of a 20-day period in December and a 10-day one in April. This would be the only window unless the coach of their program leaves or is relieved of duties, which would give players 30 days to hit the portal after the announcement.
College football programs have utilized the spring portal since its inception to add depth to their rosters and even plug key roles they could not fill through high school recruiting or the winter portal period. Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Southern Miss each added players to their roster through the spring portal period this past transfer cycle.
Coaches have also critiqued the spring period, arguing that players have used it for leverage to line their pockets through name, image, and likeness deals. This past spring cycle, more than 1,100 players entered the portal nationally.
With the impending change comes an exception. Players who participate in postseason matchups that occur after Jan. 7 will be given a five-day window following their final game to announce their intent to transfer. Some power coaches, such as Ohio State’s Ryan Day, have criticized the 10-day transfer period.
Day questioned how programs competing in the College Football Playoff would be able to sign transfers during the designated window while also preparing their teams for postseason matchups. However, the shortened period only applies to players announcing they are transferring. The players are not confined to a specific date to commit to a school or sign a letter of intent to play for that program.
The new rule will go into effect this upcoming portal cycle.
