Reigning In the Portal

NCAA Moves to Eliminate Spring Transfer Portal Window in Football

The NCAA is moving to shut down the spring transfer portal window for college football, a change officials say will reduce roster turmoil and give programs more stability heading into summer workouts.

The Division I Football Oversight Committee this week recommended the move, which would replace the current two-window system with a single transfer period beginning Jan. 2 and lasting about 10 days. The proposal also calls for December to be designated as a recruiting dead period, preventing in-person or off-campus visits during the busiest month of the sport’s calendar.

Supporters of the change say two transfer periods have fueled instability in recent years, with players leaving after spring practices and forcing coaching staffs to scramble to fill rosters. Committee members argued that consolidating the portal into one window will give athletes clarity on when they can move while helping schools manage scholarship numbers.

The proposal still needs formal approval from the Division I Administrative Committee before it can take effect. If adopted, the new rules would begin with the 2026 cycle.

What this means for athletes

For athletes considering a transfer, the biggest change is that there will only be one chance to enter the portal. The spring option is going away, so the only transfer period will come in early January. That means decisions about leaving a program now have to be made quickly after the season ends.

The shift also brings more certainty to rosters. Coaches will know sooner which players are moving on and which ones are staying, which helps them set depth charts and scholarship numbers before spring practice begins. For players, it creates fewer surprises later in the year when spots might have already filled up.

Because the timeline is tighter, planning ahead becomes even more important. Athletes will need to talk with family, coaches, and academic advisors earlier in the process to make sure credits transfer smoothly and new classes align with eligibility. The window is shorter, but if you prepare in advance, you can still make a confident move without losing ground in school or on the field.

Study Finds NIL Benefits Extending to Smaller Schools

A new study from Carnegie Mellon University suggests that recent changes in name, image, and likeness rules are helping spread opportunities beyond powerhouse programs, giving athletes at smaller schools more chances to benefit from endorsement deals.

Researchers found that talent distribution in college football is showing early signs of evening out since NIL policies began in 2021. Athletes at mid-major and lower-division programs are securing more local sponsorships and community partnerships, offering a contrast to the large national contracts often seen at Power Five schools.

The findings come at a time when schools across the country are facing tighter budgets and navigating complex settlement agreements tied to athlete compensation. For smaller programs, NIL partnerships with regional businesses have emerged as a way to retain athletes who might otherwise look to transfer.

The study’s authors said NIL is still in its early stages and that long-term trends remain unclear. But they noted that the shift shows NIL is not limited to a handful of top schools and can provide meaningful value for athletes and communities across the country.

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BRANDING

Balancing School, Sports, and NIL

The first month of any semester goes fast. Before you know what happened, you can lose control of everything you need to get done. Here are three simple tips to keep you on track.

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