The NCAA will restrict football transfer portal access to a single 10-day window in January, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
The Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee recommended Wednesday that undergraduate and postgraduate players enter the transfer portal only between Jan. 2-11. This replaces the current system allowing transfers during a 20-day December period and a 10-day April window.
The Division I Administrative Committee must approve the changes before Oct. 1.
“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.”
Teams playing in postseason games get special treatment under the new rules.
Players whose teams compete in bowl games or playoffs on or after Jan. 7 can transfer during a five-day period starting the day after their team’s final game.
The NCAA also wants to expand recruiting restrictions during December. The entire month would become a recruiting dead period, meaning coaches can call, text, or email prospects but can’t meet them in person or evaluate them at games.
Jan. 5-31 remains a standard recruiting period when coaches can contact and evaluate prospects directly.
The changes don’t affect existing restrictions during the American Football Coaches Association convention, which runs Jan. 11-14 in 2026.
Impact on College Football
The spring transfer window is effectively eliminated under these recommendations.
This addresses problems teams faced when losing multiple players during fall sessions. Some programs couldn’t field full rosters for bowl games because too many players had entered the portal.
The transfer portal has created controversy since it’s creation, with students previously allowed to transfer during both spring and fall periods for various reasons.
The shortened transfer window aims to provide more roster stability for programs while still allowing player movement at a logical time in the academic calendar.
Teams will know their rosters earlier in the recruiting cycle if the changes take effect.
