top of page
Search

Collegiate Football Tackling Its Transfer Portal Issues


 

The Gameplan for the Upcoming Postseason

 

As college football looks towards the beginning of playoff and bowl game runs, postseason disputes are already upon teams and players. On October 7, 2025, the Division I Administrative Committee voted to shorten the transfer portal time frame.[2] This would shorten the current transfer window from a 20-day period in December and another 10-day period in April, to just one time frame lasting from January 2nd to January 16th.[3] These time frames are just for collegiate football players to enter the portal.

 

The move stems from the concern of the short turn around for teams to replace players who transferred just a few months before the start of the season.[4] This new window allows coaching staffs more time to fill vacant roster spots but allows for the one-time window dates to be adjusted.[5] Based on athletes’ feedback to the committee, the original proposed ten-day window was expanded to a fifteen-day window to allow more flexibility for the players.[6] These deadlines do not have any impact on when athletes need to commit to their next school.[7] The major conflict with this new window, is that it takes place during the playoff quarterfinals when most teams' seasons will have ended.[8]

 

Two Different Views

 

Some coaches like Ryan Day, Ohio State’s head coach, thinks it puts too much pressure on coaches to recruit while they may still be in contention for a national championship.[9] Juggling postseason stress already comes with a mountain of responsibilities, and adding in one portal window during the same time can be an additional burden on coaches. There is also the difficulty of different academic calendars that can conflict with the proposed time frame and present new struggles for coaches and athletes.[10]

 

On the contrary, NC State’s head coach commented that the later time frame allows the promotion of a “finish what you started mentality” that they try to instill in the players.[11] Matt Rhule, Nebraska’s head coach, is also on board, pointing out that they are not alone in the one window time frame, referencing college basketball’s transfer portal window.[12] One window eliminates the burden on a coaching staff from redoing their roster once after the December window and then again after the Spring window. [13]

 

What to Keep an Eye On

 

While athletes cannot enter the portal before it opens, some sources expect that there will be many silent commitments before January 2nd.[14] It will be interesting to see how many back door roster changes take place with the pressure on athletes only having one opportunity to transfer. Another possible area for issues to arise is when head coaches are fired after the window has closed, therefore eliminating the opportunity for players to leave after the coaching change. [15] Athletes would possibly be stuck playing under a coaching staff they weren’t aware was coming in at the time the transfer portal window was open.

 

It will be worth keeping an eye on how the single window affects the number of transfers after the regular season. A change in the number of transfers could change how money gets disputed now that players might have lost the leverage of a second transfer window.[16] It is also worth wondering how this single window will impact college coaches who have players declaring for the draft after the transfer window closes. [17] 



Abby Reasoner (staff writer) is a 1L at Villanova Law from Kutztown, Pa. She graduated from Shippensburg University with a major in Political Science. At Villanova Law, she is the 1L representative for Intellectual Property Society. Outside of law school, she enjoys training in javelin, getting coffee with friends, and watching women’s sports. After graduation, Abby hopes to  pursue a career in litigation.



References:

[2]Max Olson, Why did college football move its transfer portal. ESPN (10/10/2025) https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46545831/college-football-single-transfer-portal-january-faq

[3]See Id.

[4] Niall Rosenberg, Breaking: NCAA votes to remove Spring transfer portal window for unified version. Statepress (9/17/2025). https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/09/sports-spring-portal-removal-ncaa-transfers

[5] See Id.

[6] Matt De Lima, NCAA announces new college football transfer portal window dates. Sports Illustrated (10/8/25). https://www.si.com/fannation/college/cfb-hq/transfer-portal/ncaa-announces-new-college-football-transfer-portal-window-dates

[7] Max Olson, NCAA eliminates spring transfer portal window for football. ESPN (9/17/2025). https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46296718/ncaa-eliminates-spring-transfer-portal-window-football

[8] Sam Khan Jr, College Football transfer portal to open for 15-day window starting Jan.2. Athletic (10/7/2025). https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6698257/2025/10/07/ncaa-college-football-transfer-portal-window/

[9] See Id.

[10] Tucker Sennet, Doeren discusses impact of transfer portal changes on Wolfpack. Sports Illustrated (9/20/2025). https://www.si.com/college/ncstate/dave-doeren-discusses--transfer-portal-changes-wolfpack-football-administrative-committee-

[11] See Id.

[12] Chris Hummer. NCAA approves single transfer portal window: How the new rule will impact college football. CBS Sports (9/17/2025). https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ncaa-approves-single-transfer-portal-window-how-the-new-rule-will-impact-college-football/

[13] See Id.

[14] Pete Nakos, New details emerge on rules surrounding transfer portal during coaching changes. On3 (10/15/25). https://www.on3.com/news/more-details-emerge-rules-around-coaching-changes-college-football-transfer-portal/

[15] See Id.

[16] Chris Hummer, supra note 13.

[17] Id.


bottom of page