Major Change Coming to Timeframe for College Football Players to Enter Transfer Portal?

With so much debate concerning the impact of the transfer portal on college football, a major change could be on the way in an effort to calm down the activity every year.

On Thursday, the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee recommended an adjustment to the football recruiting calendar, including a modification to the notification-of-transfer windows.

The Division I Administrative Committee must approve the legislative changes before it can take effect. The vote is expected to occur before Oct. 1.

Under the recommendation, undergraduate and postgraduate FBS student-athletes could enter the Transfer Portal during one window between from Jan. 2-11.

The FB Oversight Committee also supported changes to the recruiting calendar, sources tell @YahooSports, making December a dead period and Jan 5-31 a contact period.

They did not vote on a potential summer signing date, which was expected and may come later. https://t.co/nTSG9quMZe

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) September 4, 2025

This 10-day notification-of-transfer window would replace the current structure, in which football student-athletes may initiate notification during a 20-day period in December and a 10-day period in April.

Another part of the recommendation would make the entire month of December a recruiting dead period (in which coaches can call, write, text or email prospects and their families but no on- or off-campus recruiting contacts or evaluations may occur).

Jan. 5-31 would remain a recruiting period, when coaches can have contact with or evaluate prospects.

The recommendation does not change the existing quiet and dead periods during the American Football Coaches Association convention (e.g., Jan. 11-14, 2026).

The oversight committee also recommended a modification to the first date when prospective football student-athletes can receive written offers of financial aid or settlement-related benefits.

Currently, prospective student-athletes can receive written offers beginning Aug. 1 before their senior year of high school.

The recommendation would change the first date for written offers to Nov. 15 of the prospect’s senior year in high school.

It also would extend the contact prohibition that currently applies once an individual signs a school’s written financial aid agreement to also apply once an individual signs a written offer of settlement-related benefits. The contact prohibition means no other school is allowed to contact the individual.

Most of this story was taken from the NCAA’s press release.