Ohio State’s Ryan Day slams NCAA’s new transfer portal plan

Al Formicola

Ohio State’s Ryan Day slams NCAA’s new transfer portal plan image

Ohio State coach voices concerns over January-only window for transfers

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has never been shy about his views on college football’s shifting rules. But when it comes to the NCAA’s proposed overhaul of the transfer portal, Day made it clear he’s not on board.

The FBS Oversight Committee recently recommended eliminating the spring transfer window and shifting the winter window from December to January, beginning Jan. 2, 2026. Players would then have just 10 days to enter their name. For Day, that plan clashes with reality.

“No, I don’t think it’s a good idea at all,” Day said this week. “I just don’t quite understand how teams that are playing in the playoffs are expected to make the decisions and sign their upcoming players while they’re still getting ready to play for games.”

This new window creates College Football Playoff scheduling conflicts. The window would open just one day after College Football Playoff quarterfinals, leaving teams scrambling.

This new ruling creates recruiting challenges. December already demands coaches juggle bowl prep, signing day, and portal recruiting. Moving everything into January, Day argues, makes roster planning even tougher.

Teams will have to deal with player departures. Ohio State lost nine scholarship players to the portal during its playoff run last season. Compressing the timeline, he believes, could worsen attrition.

With the Division I Administrative Committee set to vote before Oct. 1, Day hopes the proposal is reconsidered. As he put it, “It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

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Al Formicola

Al Formicola is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He has over 20 years of television production experience as a writer and producer. He has previously written for Athlon Sports.