The NCAA is preparing to reshape the transfer portal in a way that could significantly alter roster movement across college football.
On Thursday, the FBS Oversight Committee voted to recommend the elimination of the spring transfer window and replace the current dual-window system with a single 10-day window in January, beginning Jan. 2, 2026. However, one of the biggest problems is this falls right in the midst of the College Football Playoff.
The change is not yet official. The Division I Administrative Committee must sign off before Oct. 1 for the new model to take effect, according to a report by Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger.
The NCAA FB Oversight Committee voted today to support a single transfer portal in January, sources tell @YahooSports, ushering in a significant change.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) September 4, 2025
The Administrative Committee still needs to formally adopt the change later. The 10-day window is expected to open Jan. 2.
With FBS coaches having unanimous support for at the American Football Coaches Association convention, the measure appears on a clear path toward approval. The coaches argue that the adjustment will give players and staffs more breathing room to close out their seasons while still ensuring mid-year transfers can be enrolled in time for spring.
As it stands currently, the portal opens in early December following conference championships and bowl selections. It's traditionally a period when staffs are simultaneously navigating roster turnover, high school signing day, along with postseason preparation.
By pushing movement into January, the NCAA hopes to reduce the stacking of events. December would also become a recruiting dead period under the proposal, limiting official visits and evaluations but still permitting communication.
For athletes, the consolidation raises questions. Will ten days be enough? Dropping from 30 days of portal access in this format means thousands of players could be entering at once, creating a frenzied and competitive marketplace.
Graduate transfers would also see their flexibility reduced. They would traditionally be able to enter the portal as early as October, but would have to wait. The NCAA has made exceptions in the past for players affected by coaching changes or extended postseason runs, and it remains unclear whether similar allowances will be written into the new rules. It's likely to stay the same, but until anything is finalized, it's hard to say.
Most coaches are largely in favor of eliminating the spring period, citing roster stability and fewer opportunities for NIL disputes that arise when players use windows for leverage. But there could be amendments to make it better.
Colorado's Deion Sanders and Syracuse Fran Brown tried to get the NCAA to allow for a joint practice, similar to the NFL with a head-to-head spring game finale. But the request was formally denied.
If approved, the January-only system will mark one of the most dramatic adjustments in the short but eventful history of the transfer portal era. It will be a shift designed to bring order to college football’s most chaotic months.
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