The transfer portal has become one of the most transformative yet controversial aspects of modern college football. While it offers players unprecedented freedom to find new opportunities, its current structure has created chaos for programs, coaches, and fans alike.
In response, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) has proposed a significant change that could bring much-needed stability to the process.
AFCA head coaches are proposing to move the transfer portal to a 10-day window in early January after bowl games with spring window eliminated (except for graduate transfers).
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) January 14, 2025
Announced after a meeting of Football Bowl Subdivision coaches in Charlotte, the proposal recommends replacing the current dual-window system with a single, condensed transfer period.
The new window would run from January 2 to January 12, immediately following the conclusion of most bowl games, with spring transfers limited to graduate students.
The proposal received unanimous support from FBS coaches and will now move to the NCAA Football Oversight Committee for consideration.
Craig Bohl, executive director of the AFCA, framed the recommendation as a way to balance the needs of players and programs while addressing some of the unintended consequences of the current setup.
“These recommendations are intended to allow a student-athlete and coaches more opportunity to focus on their season while preserving the opportunities for students who choose to transfer to still do so for a traditional spring semester,” Bohl explained in a statement.
The current transfer portal timeline, with a window opening in December, has been a source of frustration for many. It overlaps with bowl game preparations, final exams, and recruiting, forcing coaches to juggle all three simultaneously. Players often leave before their teams’ bowl games, creating depleted rosters and lessening the appeal of postseason matchups.
Under the proposed system, the transfer portal would open after most teams have completed their seasons, providing a natural break for both players and programs to evaluate their situations.
A single 10-day window would streamline the process, allowing athletes to make decisions quickly and enabling coaches to maintain roster stability. While critics of the change argue that a shorter window might disadvantage players by giving them less time to consider offers, proponents see it as a necessary trade-off to restore order to the sport.
If approved, the changes could take effect as early as the 2025-2026 season, representing a significant shift in how the transfer portal is managed. This proposal seeks to create a more structured and predictable system, one that prioritizes the integrity of the season while ensuring athletes still have the opportunity to pursue new paths.
By addressing the chaos that has defined the portal era, the AFCA’s proposal could mark a turning point for college football, creating a framework that balances opportunity with stability and preserves the value of the game’s traditions.
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