NCAA makes major decison regarding the transfer porrtal

Since its inception, the transfer portal has been controversial. Students have been allowed to transfer to a different school for various reasons, either during the Spring or Fall but now that has changed.

The NCAA decided Wednesday that the transfer portal will only be opened in the Fall, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

The NCAA released a statement on the changes made.

"The Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee on Wednesday recommended legislative changes to the football recruiting calendar, including a modification to the notification-of-transfer windows.

The Division I Administrative Committee must approve the legislative changes before it can take effect. The vote is expected to occur before Oct. 1.

Under the recommendation, undergraduate and postgraduate FBS student-athletes could enter the Transfer Portal between Jan. 2-11. 

This 10-day notification-of-transfer window would replace the current structure, in which football student-athletes may initiate notification during a 20-day period in December and a 10-day period in April.

Student-athletes who are members of teams that participate in a postseason contest on or after Jan. 7 may provide written transfer notification during a consecutive-five-day period beginning the day after their team's final postseason contest.

Another part of the recommendation would make the entire month of December a recruiting dead period (in which coaches can call, write, text or email prospects and their families but no on- or off-campus recruiting contacts or evaluations may occur).

Jan. 5-31 would remain a recruiting period, when coaches can have contact with or evaluate prospects. 

The recommendation does not change the existing quiet and dead periods during the American Football Coaches Association convention (e.g., Jan. 11-14, 2026). '

So what does all this mean? Players will have a short window to transfer, which will only be at the beginning of the year, and the Springtime transfer portal is now closed. That is good news for teams that were losing several players to the portal during the fall session. Some had to miss bowl games because they did not have enough players to participate.